The UC San Diego Shiley Eye Mobile for children has begun driving to schools in San Diego County to serve low-income families in need of eye exams.
The new UC San Diego Shiley EyeMobile for Children will serve low-income families in need of eye exams and will visit approximately 250 preschools to provide vision care to low-income students. This UC San Diego Health Program was funded by an estate gift from a former patient, replacing the previous EyeMobile that had been in service for nearly 15 years, according to the University.
“The families we serve do not have another way to access eye exams. Some don’t even have transportation and others must decide between getting milk or getting eyeglasses for their kids,” said Iliana Molina, director of the UC San Diego Shiley EyeMobile for Children. The new EyeMobile will allow us to continue providing a critical service to families. When children can see, they are able to learn, which then expands the educational opportunities for under-represented students.”
The EyeMobile is a 33-foot-long furnished recreational vehicle with two eye exam rooms, as well as a waiting for children to watch while they wait for their exam and a wall area with a robust section for eye frames. The EyeMobile aims to provide eye care services to 20,000 underserved, low-income children per year.
The program includes screening, dilated eye examination by an optometrist, a free pair of glasses if needed, follow-up monitoring with teachers and parents, and referrals for subspecialist care as needed.
“Early detection and treatment have proven to reduce the negative impact vision problems may have on a child’s development. If left untreated, conditions such as amblyopia, could lead to irreversible vision loss and psychosocial effects,” said Rachel Lee, OD, an optometrist with the UC San Diego Shiley EyeMobile for Children in a press release.
For more information, visit https://shileyeye.ucsd.edu/search?token=EyeMobile
