For IU, future of eye care is bright

Eye Care Community Outreach, a new health care program initiated by IU, is now operational and is offering various health care services to uninsured or inadequately insured residents of Indianapolis and surrounding counties.\nThe ECCO is the product of collaborative community outreach efforts by the IU School of Optometry and the IU School of Medicine's Department of Ophthalmology, with financial assistance from the Nina Pulliam Charitable Trust. \n"We are concerned with a holistic approach to health care, not just eye care," ECCO Program Coordinator Kelli Barker said. "We also connect residents in need of assistance with different government agencies and social systems."\nThe ECCO mission statement highlights the medical needs of underserved populations, as well as concern for providing resources to allow individuals to live more full and meaningful lives, according to a program pamphlet distributed by the Indianapolis Eye Care Center and the IU School of Optometry. \n"One hundred or so residents have been screened by our office in the first two months of the project, and our hope is to serve as many people in need of our services as possible," Barker said.\nThe National Eye Institute has issued concern about increases in major eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, or damaged blood vessels in the retina, the leading cause of blindness in American adults; cataracts, or clouding of the eye's lens; and glaucoma, or heightened fluid pressure inside the eye. \nIn addition, vision impairments and color blindness are among several conditions diagnosed and addressed with eye screening, care and treatment. \n"We attempt to identify someone who needs eye care but lacks the proper resources to help them(self) self," Barker said.\nSince eye care costs do not cease at the doctor's door, ECCO clients also receive assistance in acquiring eye protection, eye treatment and eyewear.\nGretchen Blemker, an IU optometry graduate student and optician at Insights Optical, 415 S. Clarizz Blvd., said glass frames range between $50 and $220 and lenses begin at $69.95, depending upon the prescription, while contact lenses range between $22.50 and $45. \n"We do offer IU students and faculty a 25 percent discount on eye care goods and services," Blemker said.\nIn Bloomington, uninsured residents can contact the Community Health Access Program, located across from Bloomington High School South. \n"The program coordinates (individuals without healthcare) with different agencies in the community to receive eye care assistance," said Patricia A. Henderson, O.D., clinical assistant professor and director of Community Eye Care Center. "We serve residents who have been out of work for a while, are independent employers unable to afford reasonable health care and any one with no health care at all." \nThe Community Eye Care Center is located at 803 N. Monroe St. \nAccording to certified specialists at the Eye Center of Southern Indiana, 1011 W. Second St., wise eye care sense often means wise eye precaution. They recommend maintaining good eyelid hygiene by avoiding rubbing the eyes, not sleeping with contacts in and keeping fingers away from the face. \n-- Contact staff writer David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu.