Key Takeaways
- Kathrine Lawrence was one of about 150 Eastside Detroit residents to receive no-cost eye care during the VSP® Eyes of Hope® two-day mobile clinic event.
- The event featured on-site doctors who provided eye exams for individuals in need. In many cases, people were fit for their prescription eyeglasses after their exam.
- In partnering with VSP, Blue Cross continues its mission to ensure that not only are our members served, but so are those in communities that may be underserved.
Decked out in her multicolored cow print eyeglass frames on Friday, 83-year-old Kathrine Lawrence said she felt a little “jazzy.”
“I love them, I love them,” Lawrence said, standing in front of Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church (MPMBC) in Detroit. “I’m a jazzy person. Not saying I do a whole lot of crazy stuff, but I love color.”
Lawrence was one of about 150 Eastside Detroit residents to receive no-cost eye care during the VSP® Eyes of Hope® two-day mobile clinic event.
“I haven’t seen a doctor without a patient,” observed MPMBC Rev. Erica Hall on Friday afternoon. “We’ve had a steady flow of folks coming in. And even though we’ve had some no shows, the walk-ins have made up for it. People have been calling to ask, “can I still see someone?” “Can I still come by?” and we just say, “come now.”
As part of a three-way partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and MPMBC, the mobile clinic event had doctors on site to provide eye exams for individuals in need. In many cases, people were fit for their prescription eyeglasses right after their exam. VSP Eyes of Hope events increase equitable access to no-cost eye care and eyewear for those who lack access due to income, distance or disaster.
“Part of our overall mission at Blue Cross is to ensure that we are giving back across all 83 counties in Michigan,” said BCBSM Senior Vice President of Community Relations, Tiffany Albert. “We want to ensure we are serving not only all Blue Cross members, but those in the community who are sometimes underserved.”
Improved vision restores independence for older adults like Lawrence
Lawrence’s bout with low vision hindered her everyday life by the time she reached her late 60s.
She was able to have a cataract in her right eye surgically removed, but when another developed in her left eye, she couldn’t afford a second surgery. Daily problems caused by her poor vision started to mount over the years.
“I have a problem that when I’m reading something, I have to put on readers or get a magnifying glass or something to see the words,” Lawrence said. “But I’m going to be better now. I know it.”
Most people with low vision are age 65 or older, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI). The leading causes of vision loss in older adults are age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts.
According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, vision rehabilitation is essential to maximizing the independence, functioning, participation, safety and overall quality of life for people with visual impairment. Lawrence knows this, and that’s why she was so thrilled to find a solution.
“It gives me back my independence,” Lawrence said. “And that’s the main thing with seniors; we need our independence. Getting these glasses will help that.
“I might see too much,” Lawrence joked. “And that’s alright. I’m blessed, right on.”
From small children to older adults like Lawrence, anyone in need gets an eye exam for free at VSP Eyes of Hope events
VSP Eyes of Hope Site Leader Torreyana Tripette said it’s important to host events in communities in need because everyone deserves the chance to see.
“I honestly say that I have the best job at the company because every day, I literally get to help people see,” Tripette said during Friday’s event. “There’s nothing better for me than being able to give glasses to somebody who has never had them before, and they put them on and their eyes just light up.”
Tripette said it’s especially exciting to see the way kids glow when they put their glasses on for the first time and everything around them becomes crystal clear.
“They’re like, ‘trees have leaves!’” Tripette said. “And I’m like, ‘yes, they do!’”
Albert echoed Tripette’s sentiments by mentioning how rewarding it is for BCBSM to see young people have their vision corrected. Without events like VSP’s Eyes of Hope events, vision issues could cause kids to struggle in school.
“To see the children in there that are waiting patiently to have their eye exam – and how excited about it they are – to seeing people put their glasses on and be able to see, in some cases, for the first time – it really is a feeling like no other.”
Learn more about VPS Eyes of Hope programs and upcoming events by visiting its website at this link.
Photo credit: VSP
