It’s hard to make ends meet at any time, particularly in a recession. Eye exams should be done annually, and your glasses updated. Your age may be changing your vision for the worse, or a disease can rob you of sight. It’s hard enough for people with disabilities to get to the doctor’s office. What if you just can’t afford that visit to the optometrist?

People with disabilities may be at particular risk. Down syndrome, diabetes and other disabilities can cause vision to degenerate faster than normal, or cause special problems with your eyes. Loss of eyesight can rob you of enjoyable hobbies, the ability to do daily tasks, even your job.

We’ve put together a list of organizations that specialize in eye care and eyewear at little or no cost, generally to qualified people. One has traveling vans, another does glasses only, one is for infants and another for children. Search through and find what you need, then contact the relevant program(s) for service.

Eye Care America
1-800-766-4466
If at least one person in your household is working, but you don’t have insurance and your income is low, you may qualify for basic eye health and vision care services.

Give the Gift of Sight
OneSight Regional Clinics and Vision Van programs provide free eye care and new eyewear to thousands of children in need across North America.

Infant SEE
(888) 396-EYES (3937).
Optometrists provide a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment to infants in their first year of life, offering early detection of potential eye and vision problems at no cost regardless of income.

Knights Templar Eye Foundation
5097 North Elston Avenue
Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60630-2460
Telephone: (773) 205-3838.
E-mail: ktef@knightstemplar.org.
If you face sight loss without surgical treatment, the Knights Templar may be able to help you.

Lions Club International
(630) 571-5466
The Lions Club International has local clubs all over the United States who each help low -income families with eye care and disability issues. 

Mission Cataract USA
800-343-7265
Mission Cataract provides free cataract surgery one day a year for those who can’t pay. Contact them to schedule an appointment now.

New Eyes for the Needy
549 Millburn Avenue, P.O. Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078-0332
Telephone: (973) 376-4903
This organization funds one pair of glasses for low-income people with a recent eye exam. Their website lists state resources for an eye exam done at no cost. http://www.neweyesfortheneedy.org/us/freeexams_states.html

Sight For Students
1-888-290-4964
Sight for Students is a charity that provides free vision exams and glasses to low-income, uninsured children.