Vision screenings now available at Aurora clinic
VNA Health Care and Spectrios Institute for Low Vision recently announced a new partnership to provide preventative and diagnostic vision care to men, women, and children who are underserved and at risk for vision loss.
On Monday, Aug. 18, VNA Health Care will begin providing vision services at its location at 400 N. Highland Ave., Aurora staffed by optometrists from Spectrios.
"There is tremendous need in our community for vision care for the uninsured," said Linnea Windel, president and CEO of VNA Health Care. "Thousands of adults and children do not currently have access to annual eye exams, which is the best way to prevent vision loss."
According to the U.S. Center for Health Statistics, only 14 percent of children under age 6 receive a comprehensive eye exam annually. Impairments in younger children are typically easy to detect and correct with annual vision exams. More than half of adults do not seek care due to lack of awareness or costs, including lack of adequate health insurance. People with diabetes are at an increased risk for eye disease and are 40 percent more likely to have glaucoma.
"Vision care is a natural extension of the primary health care services VNA provides to the vulnerable population we serve, and this is why we are seeking philanthropic support to build and equip the new vision center," Windel said.
To learn more about VNA or how you can help, contact Chrissie Howorth, vice president of philanthropy and business relations, at (630) 482-8132 or choworth@vnahealth.com. Visit vnahealth.com.
VNA Health Care provides affordable health care to more than 59,000 women, men and children living primarily in Kane, DuPage, and Will counties. VNA, which runs nine community health centers, is nationally ranked as a top performing health center as a result of patient outcomes such as high quality prenatal care, control of diabetes, and up-to-date immunizations for children. VNA's combination of convenience (by appointment or walk-in), patient-centered technology and expert care delivered with respect and compassion have led to these results. It is accredited by The Joint Commission.
Spectrios Institute, formerly Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation, is a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive visual rehabilitation program that includes a low vision evaluation, counseling, and teaching the skills of daily living. Founded in 1986 by P.K. Gieser. M.D., Spectrios Institute in Wheaton is nationally accredited. Originally named for its major benefactors, Lois and Edwin Deicke, the Spectrios Institute continues to evaluate new methods and technology for aiding people with low vision and trains eye doctors in the highly specialized field of low vision care.