EyeMobile Receives Community Support

The “Save Our Children’s Sight” program’s EyeMobile for Children is an exciting part of the Shiley Eye Center’s Division of Community Ophthalmology, in conjunction with the Anne F. and Abraham Ratner Children’s Eye Center. The EyeMobile travels to over 190 locations throughout San Diego County, providing no-charge vision care to low-income young children. The doctors and staff at the Shiley Eye Center treat eye diseases when present and provide glasses when needed in order for these children to succeed in school and in life. Grants and gifts from non-profit organizations, foundations, corporations and individuals are the most important funders of the EyeMobile.

In one example of generous community support, the EyeMobile received a grant from Las Patronas, a women’s philanthropic organization based in La Jolla. With that grant, a lensmeter was purchased for the EyeMobile, which checks the prescriptions of the children’s glasses. Also purchased for the EyeMobile with the grant from Las Patronas was equipment to help the electronic medical records of the children to be uploaded and downloaded in real time.

To date, over 42,000 San Diego County low-income children have been vision screened by the Save Our Children’s Sight/EyeMobile program. Over 7,500 children have been given complete dilated eye exams on the EyeMobile and over 2,500 children have received glasses donated by the Lions Clubs, as well as follow-up monitoring and referral if needed. The EyeMobile provides a vital service to children with eye diseases and vision problems, which if caught early enough can be treated and prevented, but could potentially cause permanent vision loss if left untreated.

Thanks to the generous grants from individuals, corporations, nonprofit groups and foundations, the Shiley Eye Center is able to give low-income children the vision they need to become productive citizens. Support is continually needed to insure the maintenance of this program. Our goal in the coming year is to purchase a new EyeMobile for Children and expand the program. If you are interested in donating or want more information, please call 858-822-2831.

Currently, the EyeMobile’s benevolent corporate and foundation contributors include the Earthward Bound Foundation, San Diego Gas & Electric, Pfizer Inc., Regents Bank, the Linnie Cooper Foundation, Qualcomm Incorporated, Variety Children’s Lifeline, Lions Clubs District 4-L6, anonymous private donors, as well as many other individuals and families around San Diego. We are truly thankful for all of your support.