A goal for expanded eyecare and innovative partnerships in SC is coming into focus thanks to a 3-year grant from the BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation for the Vision for SC Program. This program is a joint venture by PVA members including LVS, ABVI, Servants for Sight, and the SC Free Clinic Association. Together these nonprofits are increasing South Carolina’s capacity for vision health and combating the rise of vision loss, which is expected to double by 2030 without effective and immediate intervention.
Vision health encompasses 4 priorities addressed by the Vision for South Carolina program: vision loss prevention through regular vision screenings and eye exams, eye health education, sight saving surgeries, and vision rehabilitation services. Each of the participating nonprofits brings vital expertise and impactful programs together to address one or more of these vision health priorities.
Servants for Sight provides free vision screenings on its Mobile Vision Van throughout the Upstate, working to provide early detection and preventative care for vision loss. Lions Vision Services offers free sight saving eye surgeries throughout the state to permanently correct vision disabilities. The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired SC equips those with irreversible vision loss with free skills training and support services to adjust to life with a visual disability and develop the adaptive skills necessary to live safely and independently with vision loss.
The South Carolina Free Clinic Association integrates eyecare into public health apparatuses by connecting Free Clinic patients with the comprehensive eyecare services they need at one of the Vision for South Carolina program’s partner entities, utilizing a Patient Care Fund to decrease financial barriers to accessing vision healthcare services.