The Illinois Eye Institute Foundation (IEIF) supports and promotes the charitable programs of the Illinois Eye Institute to help people in need access important eye care services so they may enjoy improved health and development and an enhanced standard of living.
The IEIF also supports short-term projects to address unique and time-sensitive needs. As an example, the Ugandan Children’s Choir, during their recent visit to Chicago, received comprehensive eye care and glasses at the Illinois Eye Institute. While these services are sight-saving for many individual patients, they are also costly procedures.
Community Outreach and Charitable Programs
Vision of Hope Health Alliance (VOHHA)
Reaching out to those who cannot afford health care
VOHHA provides comprehensive eye care to uninsured, low-income adults—largely referred to the IEI by partner agencies—and helps to connect these patients, as needed, to primary healthcare providers. VOHHA patients receive comprehensive examinations, follow-up care including diagnostic testing, eyeglasses/other devices, and personalized health information.
VSP Pediatric Outreach Program (POP)
Helping children to succeed through healthy vision
The VSP POP provides comprehensive vision care for high-risk children from birth to five years of age at early intervention programs throughout Chicago. Once per week, faculty and students visit an agency to perform eye examinations to measure visual acuity, eye teaming skills, refractive condition and ocular health. Any prescribed eyeglasses are delivered to the children at their agency. VSP has made a multi-year commitment to this program.
InfantSEE
Helping infants to establish a lifetime of healthy vision
This initiative of the American Optometric Association ensures that eye and vision care becomes an integral part of infant wellness to improve a child's quality of life. Comprehensive infant eye assessments are provided as a public health service within the first year of life at no cost to the patient/family.
Low Vision Rehabilitation Service (LVRS)
Enhancing quality of life for patients with visual impairment
When vision loss cannot be restored through medical or surgical treatment, the LVRS helps patients attain the highest level of improved vision for independent living despite the visual limitations. Through grant funding, low-income seniors are provided optical and non-optical devices not covered by Medicare to enhance their ability to perform daily activities. Additionally, IEI faculty and students make visits twice per year to the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired in Jacksonville, IL to provide low vision services to children.
Vision Therapy Clinic
Addressing visually-related learning problems
More than just seeing objects clearly, vision involves collecting information through our eyes and processing the information so that it has meaning. The IEI’s Vision Therapy Clinic offers a progressive program of vision procedures to help patients develop or improve fundamental visual skills and abilities, improve visual comfort, ease and efficiency, and/or change how a patient processes or interprets visual information.
Developmental Disabilities Service (DDS)
Meeting the eye care needs of special populations
The DDS is committed to serving developmentally disabled patients with the fullest extent of services possible, as well as training future doctors to meet the multiple eye/vision care needs of special populations. Services are provided at the IEI and at the Victor C. Neumann Association. IEI faculty and students also coordinate and participate each year in the provision of vision and eye health screenings as well as eyewear for Special Olympians.
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