Three years ago, Dawn Savard of Winooski knew that something was wrong with her eyes. She could hardly see her television. She thought that she needed stronger glasses, but she avoided going to an eye doctor because she could not afford it. "It was that simple," she says. Then she read in the newspaper about EyeCare America's offer of an eye exam and one-year of medical care at no out-of-pocket cost for seniors who do not have an ophthalmologist (a medical eye doctor).

She contacted the organization, was referred to a local ophthalmologist, and found out that she had cataracts in both eyes. After cataract surgery and lens replacements, her vision was restored.

"It's a marvelous program," she says. " I got my sight back, suffered no pain and no bills."

Most older people wear eyeglasses, and for many that's where their eye care ends. They assume that poor vision is a natural part of the aging process. But by age 65, one in three Americans has some form of vision-impairing eye disease, often without knowing it. Caught early, many of these diseases can be treated and serious complications avoided.

In order to educate people about eye care and provide care for people who cannot afford it, EyeCare America, the public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, fields 7200 ophthalmologists, as volunteers, to ensure that every senior has easy access to comprehensive examinations and treatment - at no out-of-pocket cost to them. There are 21 such ophthalmologists in Vermont, several in Burlington alone. To date, these volunteers have helped 644 Vermonters.

Established in 1985, EyeCare America provides programs for seniors, glaucoma and diabetes patients, and children through its corps of volunteer ophthalmologists. Across the nation, they have helped more than 860,000 people to date and treated more than 200,000 cases of eye disease. 

The Seniors EyeCare Program is designed for people who: are U.S. citizens or legal residents; are 65 and older; have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years; do not have eye care insurance through an HMO or the Veterans administration. There is no income requirement. Volunteer ophthalmologists accept Medicare and/or other insurance reimbursements as payment in full. Uninsured patients receive care at no charge. Eyeglasses, prescriptions, hospital services, and fees of other medical professionals are not covered.

If you are interested, call 1-800-222-EYES (3937), all day, every day, year-round. If you are found eligible, you are matched through a zip code search with a volunteer ophthalmologist in your area. The physician will be notified of your interest and eligibility. After you make an appointment, the ophthalmologist will provide a comprehensive medical eye examination and treatment for any condition diagnosed during the initial visit for up to one year. He or she will test your vision, dilate your eyes to check for early signs of serious eye disease, and measure eye pressure to check for glaucoma.

Thomas Cavin, MD, an ophthalmologist practicing in South Burlington, has been a volunteer with EyeCare America since 1985. "A major problem with our health care system," he says, "is that people with no insurance may feel that they cannot afford care. They may wait until it's too late." Cataracts rarely cause irreversible blindness, and surgery can restore vision, he says. But other conditions, like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, if left untreated can lead to serious vision and permanent vision problems, even blindness.

"These conditions can sneak up on a person," says Cavin. "Even when there are no symptoms, treatment may be necessary to help prevent vision loss. But later treatment may not be as helpful."  

August is National Cataract Awareness Month, when EyeCare America makes a special educational campaign to alert people about this leading cause of vision loss among adults. More than half the people over age 65 have some degree of cataract development. "Bad eye sight does not have to be part of aging," says Allison Neves of EyeCare America. "While cataracts are a natural condition of the aging eye, they can be treated and removed with a simple procedure and normal sight can be restored."

More information: www.eyecareamerica.org 

Barbara Leitenberg writes on senior issues for the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging. This article originally appeared in the Burlington Free Press.