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EyeCare
America
offers
seniors
free eye
exams
and 80%
drug
discount
card to
those on
a fixed
income
SAN
FRANCISCO
(Tell Us
USA) -
It’s a
fact of
life.
When
people
reach
their
senior
years,
they are
at high
risk for
developing
age-related
eye
diseases
that can
lead to
blindness
if not
caught
and
treated
in time.
The good
news is
that
people
can take
steps to
protect
themselves.
The
first
step is
to get a
simple,
painless
eye exam
by an
ophthalmologist.
To help
seniors
who
haven’t
seen an
ophthalmologist
in three
or more
years,
the
American
Academy
of
Ophthalmology’s
EyeCare
America
program
may be
able to
help
match
Americans
65 and
older
with
volunteer
ophthalmologists
across
the
country.
EyeCare
America
volunteers
provide
eligible
seniors
medical
eye
exams,
often at
no
out-of-pocket
cost,
and up
to one
year of
follow-up
care for
any
condition
diagnosed
during
the
initial
exam for
the
physician
services.
The
program
also
offers a
glaucoma
eye exam
to
eligible,
uninsured
individuals
who are
at
increased
risk for
glaucoma,
determined
by their
age,
race and
family
history.
Visit
www.aao.org/eyecare-america
to see
if you
or a
loved
one is
eligible.
Other
ways
EyeCare
America
helps is
with
Drug
Discount
Cards.
Connecting
you with
a
volunteer
ophthalmologist
isn’t
the only
way
EyeCare
America
helps
seniors.
It can
also
help
people
deal
with the
challenges
of
affording
prescription
medications.
This can
be
helpful,
especially
to
seniors
who may
live on
a fixed
income.
EyeCare
America’s
new drug
discount
card can
help
people
save up
to 80
percent
on drug
costs.
It can
be used
as often
as
needed
at over
65,000
pharmacies
nationwide,
including
all
major
chains.
The card
can also
be
shared
with
friends
and
family.
It’s
free,
with no
fees or
registration,
and it
never
expires.
Download
the card
today
and
start
saving
by
visiting
our
Assistance
with
Medications
page at
www.aao.org/eyecare-america
The
American
Academy
of
Ophthalmology
recommends
that
people
65 and
older
get
medical
eye
exams
with an
ophthalmologist
on an
annual
basis.
Through
comprehensive
eye
exams,
ophthalmologists
can
check a
person’s
eyes for
hidden
signs of
eye
disease,
which
may have
no
noticeable
symptoms
in their
early
stages.
Once
diagnosed,
ophthalmologists
can
provide
treatments
to help
prevent
vision
loss.
Learn
more
about
eye
diseases
and
conditions
and how
to
protect
you
sight at
www.aao.org/eyesmart.
A Harris
Poll
commissioned
by the
Academy
revealed
nearly
two out
of three
American
adults
report
having
eye or
vision
problems.
Despite
this,
many are
neglecting
these
important
sight-saving
exams,
even
when
they
have
signs of
vision
problems.
The most
commonly
cited
reason
is cost
or lack
of
insurance.
EyeCare
America
has
helped
more
than 1.8
million
people
since
1985.
Its
sight-saving
services
are made
possible
through
the
generous
support
of the
Knights
Templar
Eye
Foundation
Inc.,
with
additional
support
provided
by
Alcon.
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