Mobile vision clinic hits the streets

The Southern College of Optometry has introduced MobilEYES, a mobile vision clinic that will be used to reach schoolchildren, seniors and the working uninsured and other members of the community without adequate access to vision care.

The unit is new to SCO, but it already had been in operation. Southern College of Optometry acquired the mobile eye exam unit in late 2014 from S.A.V.E. (School Advocates for Vision and Education).

S.A.V.E. launched the mobile unit and made it available to any optometrist or ophthalmologist who wanted to volunteer to go to schools in the Memphis area where children had failed vision screenings and hadn’t followed up.

“There have been a couple of studies that show children don’t follow up on screenings in schools because of a lack of funding or a lack of access,” said Dr. James E. Venable, Vice President for Clinical Programs at SCO.

It proved difficult to find doctors to support the program so Southern College of Optometry was approached to take over the vision unit. Funding from the Plough Foundation and First Tennessee Foundation has made it possible for the unit to continue servicing the community, now under a rebranded name and mission.

The unit is a customized recreational vehicle with two exam rooms and an optical dispensary. Venable said it can provide roughly three-fourths of procedures that can be performed in a facility including follow-up care with conditions such as glaucoma.

Currently, the unit continues visiting schools three days a week.

“Our goal is to take this to five days a week as quickly as we can,” Venable said, noting that the unit will visit community centers and churches to service the senior population as well.