Fulfilling our mission one vision screening at a time
By Jill Feilmeier on November 10, 2022 in Vision Health
At Delta Dental of Iowa, we take great pride in our mission of improving the health and lives of the people we serve. That’s why, for the second straight year, we hosted a free vision clinic at Oakridge Neighborhood located in Des Moines for community members.
On November 1 and 2, the Delta Dental of Iowa and DeltaVision team, in partnership with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Prevent Blindness Iowa, and Oakridge Neighborhood Services, provided 366 individuals with free vision screenings, exams and free eyeglasses if needed. Oakridge provides safe, affordable housing coupled with wraparound services for individual and family success, serving the needs of children to aging adults. For some of the residents, this was their first-ever vision screening.
With a talented team of more than 100 volunteers including local ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians, we were able to provide 366 eye exams and fit 89 percent of those individuals for free eyeglasses over the two days. 20 patients were referred to specialists for a variety of potential eye diseases. New this year was the ability to manufacture eyeglasses during the clinic, so many individuals needing eyeglasses were able to receive them the same day.
The impact of not being able to see
The impact of this clinic is significant when you consider that one in seven people can’t see clearly. Not being able to see clearly can impact your ability to work, learn, and perform daily activities. Additionally, poor vision can lead to increased headaches, eye pain, and eyestrain. This can all negatively impact the quality of life of those living with poor vision.
Many times, people skip routine vision care due to affordability, lack of awareness, or lack of physical access. Some people believe that annual visits to the eye doctor are only needed if you wear glasses or have an eye disease. However, catching eye disease early is important in receiving treatment before it causes larger health issues, such as blindness.
Striving to improve the health and lives of Iowans
Vision is something many take for granted and that’s why Delta Dental of Iowa and DeltaVision encourage you to schedule your annual eye health exams. Through free vision screening clinics like the one we recently hosted at Oakridge Neighborhood, we’ve seen the joy sight can bring to those who have not seen clearly in many years. It is our commitment to continue working toward improving the health and lives of Iowans through supporting projects like the free vision clinic that provide access to vision care.
Visit our website for more information about how we are investing in your community and improving lives through community giving programs.