VISION USA

Interested patients can apply for the program online in the VISION USA section of AOA’s Web site.

Volunteers in Service in Our Nation (VISION) USA, sponsored in Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Optometric Association and the Pennsylvania Vision Conservation Institute, is a program for low income workers and their families who need eye care but cannot afford it.

Qualified low-income workers without eye/vision insurance and their families who are matched to doctors of optometry in their area will receive free eye care from participating optometrists. Both children and adults are included in the program. Exams may be limited on a first-come, first served basis in some areas.

Eligibility Guidelines

To qualify for the program, applicants must:

• Have a job or live in a household where at least one person is working full- or part-time;
• Not have health insurance that covers eye examinations;
• Have an income falling below an established level based on household size; and
• Not have had an eye exam during the past two years.

How to Apply for Eligibility Screening

Those who think they qualify for the program should visit the VISION USA section of AOA’s Web site.

If You Are Eligible

Exams may be limited in some areas. Qualified applicants will be matched on a first come, first served basis to a volunteer optometrist from their community who will perform a comprehensive eye examination at no charge.

If you have been matched to a doctor, you will be notified via mail within a few months of applying. You will receive a doctor’s name, address and phone number to contact for your appointment. Appointments should be scheduled immediately upon receiving the doctor’s information.