The Illinois Eye Institute provides a wide range of community outreach to support the needs of citizens in different
communities throughout the area. The IEI's initiatives include:

Vision of Hope Health Alliance
IEI works with partner agencies in Chicago to provide eye care and eyeglasses for uninsured, low-income adults. Many of these patients
also suffer from underlying diseases that contribute to their eye
problems, and the Alliance helps to connect these patients to primary healthcare providers.

Pediatric Outreach Program
Healthy vision is an important component of a child’s development and performance in school. In partnership with early intervention programs throughout Chicago, the IEI provides comprehensive vision care and eyeglasses as needed for high-risk children from birth to five years of
age.

Sight for Seniors
Many older, low-income adults cannot afford appropriate eye care due
to the limitations in coverage from Medicare and Medicaid. And many
do not know that poor eyesight is not a natural part of aging. The IEI
is piloting a program in collaboration with the Chicago Housing Authority
and the Chicago Department on Aging to provide essential eye
care services to this population.

Illinois School for the Visually Impaired
Twice per year, IEI faculty and residents travel to Jacksonville, Illinois to provide low vision services to the children at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired.
Sponsored by the Lions of Illinois Foundation
with additional support from the Illinois Society to Prevent Blindness, the children are provided with any low vision devices required to assist
them with their education and daily activities.

Special Olympics
IEI has long been the official provider of eye care for the Special Olympics. IEI students and faculty attend the Opening Eyes and Medfest vision screenings each year and, working with several sponsoring ophthalmic organizations, provide protective eyewear and glasses to athletes free
of charge.

Junior Olympics
IEI sponsors sports vision screenings for the Junior Olympic games each summer. IEI students and faculty evaluate each athleteís visual system in relation to his/her particular sport.



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