PLAINVIEW, N.Y., July 17 Davis Vision, Inc., a Highmark Company, today announced that its 2009 community outreach program has already provided more than $200,000 to date in free vision care services to the underserved. Free services, including vision screenings, eye exams and eyeglasses have been provided to more than 1,500 people across the country.
Advertisement
"We bring our 'Focus on America' vision program to a variety of communities across the country to help those who are uninsured or underinsured receive the vision care they need," said Laura Dyer, Davis Vision's assistant vice president of community outreach and media relations. "We are only at the midpoint of our community outreach work this year, but it is clear that the tough economic climate we are in has prompted many children and families to take advantage of the free services we provide."
Advertisement
Although children and adults sometimes forego vision screenings and exams during challenging times, preventive and corrective care are imperative for vision health. An eye examination and single pair of glasses can cost over $400 per person. Since the beginning of this year, Davis Vision has partnered with its sister company, Eye Care Centers of America (ECCA), and many community-based organizations to provide services to those in need.
Davis Vision has already sponsored 13 clinics this year in locations in Pennsylvania, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, New York and Pittsburgh. A wide range of vision care services from screenings to full eye exams and eyeglasses, are part of Davis Vision's "Focus on America" activities.
For the remainder of 2009, Davis Vision will continue to offer free vision screenings and clinics at locations throughout the country, many in partnership with ECCA. Services will be provided at the company's wholly owned retail locations, including Davis Vision, Total Vision Care, Empire Vision, EyeMasters and Cambridge Eye Doctors.
The Greater Washington, D.C.-based Neediest Kids organization is one of the many community organizations that partner with Davis Vision each year to bring vision care services to the community.
"Our organization serves as a vital bridge to success for students in the metropolitan Washington area. We work with schools to give each and every student the opportunity to be successful in school and in life," said Lynne Filderman, executive director of the Neediest Kids organization. "When students go without the basics, they lose the very chance to be successful in school and in life. Our relationship with Davis Vision and the D.C.-area Hour Eyes retail locations has already enabled more than 550 children in our area to receive the vision care services they need."
The community-based screenings from Davis Vision help detect obvious vision problems early and help direct those in need to treatment before things get worse.
"Last year we conducted 20 vision clinics, and we have doubled our goal for 2009 by expanding our reach into a variety of new areas," said Tom Davis, Davis Vision executive vice president. "This is vital at a time when uninsured children may be having trouble receiving proper vision care."
Supporting the communities where it does business is an important part of Davis Vision's outreach activities. In addition to sponsoring free vision screenings and clinics during the past year, Davis Vision and its employees also support other activities such as Hands on New Orleans, the Boys and Girls Club of America and St. Mary's Children's Hospital in New York.
About Davis Vision
Davis Vision is part of the HVHC Inc. group of companies, which also includes Viva International Group and Eye Care Centers of America. One of the nation's premier managed vision care companies, Davis Vision has been providing comprehensive vision benefits for more than 45 years, and currently serves more than 55 million members nationwide through an extensive blended network of approximately 30,000 ophthalmologists and optometrists, in addition to many opticians and top national retail providers. For more information about Davis Vision, visit www.davisvision.com.
SOURCE Davis Vision, Inc.
