Other Projects
to Help the Blind and Visually Impaired
The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers this information on the background of several initiatives.
Background
"In spite of federal and state health care initiatives, millions
of Americans do not have access to affordable medical and surgical eye
care. Appropriate health care should be accessible to everyone without
regard to their ability to pay, a concept strongly endorsed by American
medicine, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and its membership. It
is the policy of the Academy and the Foundation of the American Academy
of Ophthalmology to encourage its membership to participate in those initiatives
that promote awareness of eye disease and offer access to affordable quality
medical and surgical eye care. Through EyeCare AmericaTM,
the Academy Foundation's national public service program, Academy membership
is provided an opportunity to participate in a major, nationally-recognized
promote-respond and referral system that provides access to care for the
medically underserved. In addition, the Academy and Foundation encourages
the development of local programs by ophthalmologists that provide care
for indigent and medically underserved patients. "
Projects
| Call 1-800-222-EYES. |
National Eye Care Project
provides access and needed medical eye care to eligible seniors over 65 with no out-of-pocket expense.Diabetes Project
provides access to eye care for eligible patients with diabetes. EyeCare America partners with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other organizations for this project.Glaucoma Project
promotes early awareness and provides referral and treatment for eligible people at increased risk for developing glaucoma.Children's Project
an initiative, in pilot phase, to increase awareness of potentially blinding children's eye diseases.
