The doctors of Richmond Eye Associates participate in public service programs sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.  In these projects, eligible patients can receive care with no out-of-pocket expenses to the physician.  Richmond Eye Associates currently participates in the Seniors EyeCare Program (formerly the National EyeCare Project) and the Glaucoma EyeCare Program.

ONLINE Screening for Glaucoma Risk Factors and eligibility in the EyeCare America Program.

EyeCare America^SM

EyeCare America^SM is the umbrella program for all American Academy of Ophthalmology Foundation national public service projects. The program uses a model of promotion, response and referral in its fight against blindness.

Promotion involves educating the public - especially those at risk for certain eye diseases - about the importance of timely eye examinations and treatment.

Response includes providing educational and informational materials regarding eye health and specific eye diseases to physicians and the general public.

Referral involves linking qualified individuals with volunteer ophthalmologists who have agreed to provide care and treatment on behalf of EyeCare America.

EyeCare America currently includes three programs:

• Seniors EyeCare Program - SEP (formerly the National Eye Care Project^®)

• Glaucoma EyeCare Program - GEP

• Diabetes EyeCare Program - DEP (currently involving retina subspecialists only)

A Macular Degeneration Project is being planned.

---

Seniors EyeCare Program

The EyeCare America^SM  Seniors EyeCare Program (SEP) the largest, oldest and most successful medical public service project in the United States, ensures every elderly American has access to medical eye care. It is designed for, but not limited to, those without access to an ophthalmologist or without the means to pay.

Eligible callers to the toll-free Helpline are matched with one of 7,300 volunteer ophthalmologists. The ophthalmologist has agreed to:

• Provide a comprehensive medical eye exam.
• One year of treatment for any condition diagnosed at the initial visit.
• Accept Medicare and/or other insurance as payment in full, with no out-of-pocket expense to the patient (co-payments and deductibles are waived through an EyeCare America waiver).
• Treat patients without insurance at no charge.

The criteria for Seniors EyeCare Program eligibility are:

• Age 65 or older
• U.S. citizens or legal residents
• Have not seen an ophthalmologist in the last three years
• Are not in an HMO
• Do not obtain care through the Armed Forces or Veteran's Administration.

The Seniors EyeCare Program (formerly NCEP) was founded in 1986 and has helped over half a million American seniors in the past fifteen years. The project is funded by the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. (www.knightstemplar.org/ktef/index.htm).

For more information on the SEP, call the toll-free Helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-222-EYES (3937).

---

Glaucoma EyeCare Program
Stopping the Sneak Thief of Sight

Glaucoma can secretly steal your sight because it has virtually no symptoms. It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Americans over 40 and among all African-Americans, and is the second most common cause of all blindness in the U.S.

Approximately three million Americans have glaucoma, and more than half do not realize it or discover it until permanent damage and vision loss have occurred. Because medical and surgical treatments for glaucoma are so effective at preventing blindness, and because of the great need for education about early detection, the Academy Foundation is creating a project devoted specifically to glaucoma awareness and treatment.

Debuting in early 2002, the EyeCare America^TM - Glaucoma EyeCare Program  strives to prevent blindness from undetected glaucoma by increasing awareness of the disease's risk factors among physicians and the public. Individuals who call the helpline below are screened for evidence-based glaucoma risk factors, including family history, race and age, and those at high risk qualify for the project and are matched with a volunteer ophthalmologist.

By participating in the program, the volunteer ophthalmologist has agreed to the following:

• Provide a glaucoma eye examination and initiate treatment, if necessary.
• Patients with insurance will be billed and are responsible for any co-payments.
• Patients without insurance are examined at no charge.

Patients qualify for the program by calling the helpline below.  It is designed for people who:

• Are U.S. citizens or legal residents.
• Have not had an eye examination in 12 months or more.
• Are at increased risk for glaucoma (family history, race, age).
• Do not have eye care insurance through an HMO or VA.

The program is co-sponsored by The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Pharmacia Corporation and is endorsed by the American Glaucoma Society and state ophthalmologic societies.

For more information on the Glaucoma EyeCare Program, or to determine eligibility, call the toll-free Helpline at 1-800-391-EYES (3937).