Healthy Aging
Free Screenings for Seniors Offer Hope for Preventing Vision Loss
 ver the past year, “Alice,” an African-American woman in her 60s, noticed her vision deteriorating and decided it was time to check out a free eye screening offered at her local senior center in East Palo Alto.
Prevent Blindness Northern California, which administered the tests through its vision screening program for older adults, determined she was at risk for glaucoma, not only because she is African-American – a group four times more likely than the general population to go blind from the disease – but also because the intraocular pressure in her eyes was unusually high. Knowing that the disease can damage the optic nerve and peripheral vision, the staff referred Alice to a local doctor, who is now closely monitoring and treating her condition.
 The vision screening program works as a lifeline for many older, underserved adults at risk for eye disease. Seniors access the free screenings at community-based senior centers, health programs and transitional housing sites throughout the Bay Area and rural counties in Northern California. The program also offers ocular information, health education and referrals to local treatment providers, all free of charge. To establish this program, TCWF awarded Prevent Blindness Northern California a three-year, $150,000 grant.
“This vital first point of contact for elders at high risk of eye disease has been an invaluable service to maintain healthy independence for seniors, especially for those who don’t have the resources to obtain regular preventive vision care,” said TCWF Program Director Jeffrey Seungkyu Kim.
Barbara Cox, Prevent Blindness Northern California’s executive director, oversees the program.
“Our adult screenings help to detect glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and other conditions,” said Cox.
Reaching seniors at the free eye screenings has had success in catching conditions that might otherwise have gone undetected. Prevent Blindness has found that 40 percent of the seniors who receive screenings have outcomes that warrant physician-care referrals.
The program helps patients find sources of payment for further examinations and treatment – through partnerships with organizations that serve low-income communities such as Lions Eye Foundation and Vision USA.
“Our staff is trained in assisting individuals to locate low-cost or free medical care, wherever possible,” said Cox. “We check back every few months to urge them to be seen professionally.”
Community education is also crucial. The screenings give staff the opportunity to answer questions, discuss the importance of vision care, and distribute literature on various eye conditions. Prevent Blindness Northern California’s own resource guide, “Coping with Sight Loss in Northern California,” lists more than 200 community resources for individuals with vision impairments. The guide is posted on the organization’s website, www.eyeinfo.org.
“Since the grant began in April 2003, we have screened more than 1,000 adults ages 55 and over, which has ultimately resulted in many individuals receiving diagnosis and treatment of a number of serious sight conditions,” said Cox. “The work of preserving the precious sense of sight is very gratifying, and we love hearing back from those we have served to know that we have truly made a difference.”
For more information, please visit www.eyeinfo.org.
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