With the aim of spreading awareness about vision health and eye care among the elderly people aged 65 and above, EyeCare America has come up with ‘Glaucoma Awareness Month’ during January 2011. The public program involves 7,000 volunteer ophthalmologists from across the US and Puerto Rico that will be providing no out-of-pocket cost eye care tests and offer free eye health educational material.
EyeCare America, a part of Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, has started a capmapign for elderly and those who want to take advantage of these services can check online from their website if they are eligible to avail them. Even relatives of the elderly can check with the online referral center to see if their loved ones are eligible and get the guidance in regard to the suitable volunteer ophthalmologist tied up with EyeCare America.
It must be noted that when eye is healthy it is filled with clear fluid that constantly comes from behind the iris and is drained out of the eye through a canal. In the cases, when this canal gets blocked it leads to glaucoma damage of the optical nerve thereby resulting in visual problems.
African-American and Hispanic communities are considered to be the most prone to Glaucoma. Understanding the needs and problems faced by these communities and the elder citizens of the society that are at the greater risk of developing glaucoma, EyeCare America has come up with some criteria defining the eligibility of citizens for availing free services at ‘Glaucoma Awareness Month’.
And these conditions include: One has to be a US citizens or legal resident of the country, with 65 years of age and above. The person must not have availed eye care through HMO or the VA, and has not been to an ophthalmologist at least during the past three years.
Since its foundation in 1985, more than 1.5 million people have benefited from almost free eye care programs including Glaucoma Awareness Month organized by EyeCare America. It is a non-profit program and receives its funding from charitable contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals.