VSP Blog » Mobile Eyes

Pay it forward!

Alex — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:23:11 +0000

Thanks to the support of our wonderful Facebook fans, the VSP Facebook community has grown to 50,000 fans and counting! Because you have given us so much support, we want to give it right back!

We are awarding a member of our online community with the opportunity to pay it forward. Enter to win a VSP Mobile Eyes charity event in 2012, for a charity or school in your local community.

“Like” the VSP Facebook page, then comment on this photo on the Facebook page. The first 500 fans will be automatically entered to win!

VSP Mobile Clinic Stops at Loaves and Fishes

Kay — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:01:22 +0000

VSP Optometrist Wesley Umeda, O.D., examines a patient in-need onboard the VSP Mobile Eyes Clinic

I am constantly reading the blogs and articles from the VSP Mobile Clinic team and it always seemed like the people who participate have such rewarding experiences–I used to think it was just a marketing strategy. That is until I joined up with Lori F., Vicki A., and the Mobile Clinics team at the Loaves and Fishes event this month in Sacramento. Talk about an eye opener!!! I arrived at the location at 8:00 am to help set up and was immediately approached by numerous people from Friendship Park asking how they could get an appointment to see the eye doctor. I directed them to the event coordinator for Loaves and Fishes, but many of them were not seen at the clinic that day because patients had already been pre-registered.

Once the patients started arriving, I quickly realized exactly what the other Mobile Clinic volunteers had been blogging about. The people we saw are often overlooked in society–most of them carrying everything they own in a backpack. And yet, the energy and excitement they exuded was intoxicating. I heard more laughter and saw more smiles on their faces than at the mall on a weekend.

As the morning rolled on, the line continued to grow and it started heating up outside. There was really nothing we could do to speed up the process as so many patients were getting their eyes dilated and had to wait inside for the doctor to reexamine them. Jessie, a VSP Intern and fellow MRT, did such an amazing job with the people waiting outside and making sure all of the paperwork was in order so that we could focus on getting the patients in and out as quickly as possible. I will never forget one of the patients named Brandy. She was so tired of waiting to see the doctor and was getting incredibly grumpy, so we invited her to wait in the clinic in the air conditioning. She tried so hard to stay mad, but once she and I started picking out her frames there was nothing that could wipe the smile off of her face.

Dr. Umeda, Dr. Swan and Dr. Kim, VSP doctors who volunteered their time, all did such an amazing job with the patients. People kept telling me how nice they were to them. It is so easy to take the kind of care I receive from my VSP doctor for granted, and it was just one of many reminders I had that day of just how blessed I am. I feel kind of selfish for having gotten so much out of this experience when we were there to be giving to others, but I truly felt like I was doing something that made a difference. So many of the people I met during the event were so gracious and grateful to us for helping them to see. Without my glasses I can see about 6 inches from my face, so I cannot even begin to imagine how hard it is to have to go through life not being able to see what’s going on around me.

I would like to say a big thank you to Loaves and Fishes for everything they do for the people in our community. I have always known VSP was a special place to work and am so grateful that our company not only gives back to the community, but allows and encourages its employees to do the same. This event hit close to home for me and opened my eyes to so many of the things in life that I take for granted. I cannot wait for the next opportunity I get to volunteer with the Mobile Clinics!

Cedarville Eye in MA wins new mobile clinic naming contest!

Jill N — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:00:07 +0000

Jill N. is a member of the VSP Global Public Relations team.

In February we asked our VSP doctors to submit names for the new VSP/Transitions mobile clinic. Thanks to the great response from our providers, we received over 600 names, and selected five for the general public to vote on: Eyenstein, LuSee, SeeAna, SeeBert and SeeCil. After a two week voting period, Eyenstein received the top number of votes and has become the official name for the third mobile clinic in the VSP Mobile Eyes^® fleet!

Amanda S. from Dr. Churchill’s practice, Cedarville Eye, in MA, submitted the winning name: “I had originally come up with several other names, and while I was submitting them, the name ‘Eyenstein’ just popped in my head. The play on the name made me laugh a little, so I submitted it. I thought it was clever because as an opticianry apprentice, I know that healthy vision is smart!”

Our winners, Dr. Churchill and Amanda

Dr. Churchill gave the prize, an all-expense paid trip for two to the 2011 Transitions PGA Championship at Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club in Florida, to Amanda who stated, “I’m very excited about the trip, but I know I’ll be even more excited when March comes and the weather is miserable here in New England, but I’ll be boarding a plane to sunny Florida!”

The new clinic will travel to Cedarville Eye later this year to provide charitable eyecare services in the local community to those in need.

Christine M. from Chicago was our Facebook Fan consumer drawing winner winning a VSP Experience (a comprehensive eye exam and new eyewear from a local VSP doctor of her choice) and HD Flip Video Camera!

Thank you to all who participated! We look forward to utilizing Eyenstein, in partnership with our VSP network doctors, to help extend our reach even further to help more people in need.

About VSP Mobile Eyes^® Program

The VSP Mobile Eyes^® program features portable ophthalmic equipment and three advanced mobile eyecare clinics which respond immediately to disasters and assist people in need. When not at disaster sites, our mobile clinics travel to community events across the country. In partnership with VSP network doctors, the clinics provide no-cost comprehensive eye exams and, if needed, glasses to the underserved.

Since inception, the mobile clinics have visited over 200 underserved communities nationwide, providing charitable eyecare services and education outreach. Over 410 VSP eye doctors have volunteered their time and services to help more than 23,500 low-income, uninsured, and underinsured children and adults.

Specs for Success at Animo Justice and Animo Ralph Bunche

Jessica G. — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:33:11 +0000

The clinic outside of the Animo Ralph Bunche and Animo Justice campus.

Wednesday was my first day working as a tech on our mobile clinic, and it put me to the test! On our day of a series of events in partnership with Green Dot Public Schools, we visited Animo Ralph Bunche and Animo Justice. These schools share the same campus, so we were able to help students from both schools from one location.

These students were amazing! The results of the Green Dot program are apparent after talking to the kids that we saw. They’d just finished taking their PSAT test, and were articulate, polite, and eager to get their eyes examined. Looking back on myself at that age, I could have taken a cue or two from their manners and poise.

All of the students loved the selection of eyewear on the clinic, and were totally excited about the great brands available to them. Who wouldn’t be glad to wear glasses from Fendi, Coach, or Sean John?

Drs. Kurata and Silverman, the VSP network doctors who volunteered their time on the clinic Wednesday, were so gracious. They put students at ease, and were so efficient that we were able to keep to the schedule.

Vision is key to scholastic success, and these kids are college-bound! We were proud to be part of their path to accomplishment.

Victor was excited to model glasses for us.

Dr. Silverman with a happy student.