EyeCare America-National Eye Care ProjectThis is a program of the
American Academy of Ophthalmology to provide free or low-cost eye exams.
Those who are eligible are people who are 65 or older, U.S. citizens, not in
a health maintenance organization, not receiving care through the armed
forces or Department of Veterans Affairs, and who haven't seen an
ophthalmologist in the last three years.
1-800-222-EYES (1-800-222-3937)
Recommended Guidelines
for Eye Exams
|
|
Before age 5: |
Toddlers should
be screened for common childhood problems such as crossed eye, lazy
eye, nearsightedness and farsightedness. |
|
Puberty to age
39: |
Should be checked
if you experience any eye problems or visual changes such as pain,
floaters, flashes of light, blurry vision, or eye injury. |
|
Ages 40 to 65: |
Should be
examined every two to four years. |
|
Everyone over 65:
|
Should be
examined every one to two years. |
|
People at higher
risk for eye diseases need to be examined more often. For example,
adults with diabetes should have yearly eye exams. Other people at
higher risk include blacks over age 40, people with a family history
of eye disease, or those with a history of eye injury.
Source:
American Academy of Ophthalmology |
Low-Vision Resources
There are many aids and devices that can help in low-vision situations.
Among them are magnifying lenses you can mount on your glasses or on a
headband, miniature telescopes to help see a television across the room, and
talking wristwatches. Here are some organizations that can point you in the
right direction for more on resources that help people with vision problems
maintain their quality of life.
American Optometric Association
243 North Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO. 63141
www.aoa.org
Lighthouse International
111 E. 59th St.
New York, NY 10022
1-800-829-0500
TTY: 212-821-9713
www.lighthouse.org
National Association for Visually Handicapped
22 W. 21st St., 6th Floor
New York, NY 10010
212-889-3141
and
3201 Balboa St.
San Francisco, CA 94121
415-221-3201
www.navh.org
National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health
2020 Vision Place
Bethesda, MD 20892
301-496-5248
www.nei.nih.gov
National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-659-9314
www.nfb.org
Prevent Blindness America
500 E. Remington Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60173
1-800-331-2020
www.preventblindness.org
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