Optometrycollege’sdonated,discountedvisioncaresees
$5.6million
By Aisling Mäki, Daily Memphian
Updated: October 30, 2024 5:46 PM CT | Published: October 30, 2024 5:35 PM CT
The Southern College of Optometry reported more than $5.6 million in donated and discounted vision care for Mid-South patients during the 2023-2024 scal year.
Lewis Reich, SCO’s president since 2016, said the lack of access to vision care in the Mid-South is among the highest in the nation.
“Vision care is an important component of overall health care, and Southern College of Optometry is committed to serving our fellow community members by opening to them a door to a service they either may not afford or have covered by their insurance,” he said.
Optometry students from across the US, Canada have eyes on Memphis
The $5.6 million includes outreach programs that bring free and affordable eye care to about 20,000 residents a year. They include free screenings at K-12 schools, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and partnerships with nonprots like Project Homeless Connect and Youth Villages.
The gure also includes care provided for uninsured or underinsured patients at SCO’s three clinics, which combined log about 45,000 patient visits annually.
The clinics are The Eye Center on SCO’s campus, University Eye Care at the University of Memphis and FocalPoint at Crosstown Concourse. They provide care to all patients, regardless of ability to pay, while serving as a teaching facility for future optometrists.
SCO, located 1245 Madison Ave. in the Memphis Medical District, was founded in 1932, making it one of the nation’s oldest.
Its student body represents more states than any other optometry school in the U S , and through the years it has recruited students from every state in the union.
Life-changing vision equipment helps children see more clearly
In addition to SCO’s strong academic program, clinical training at its clinics and through community programs and partnership is a major component of the education it provides students.
10/30/24, 6:01 PM Optometry college's donated, discounted vision care sees $5 6 million - Memphis
“As a bonus, all SCO students take part in these community outreach programs, which immerses them further in their training to become professional optometrists, as well as inspires them to continue a life of service after they graduate and begin their careers in the communities they choose to practice,” Reich said.
TOPICS
SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY THE EYE CENTER CHARITY
AislingMäki
Aisling Mäki has spent the better part of two decades writing about Memphis A former digital journalist for WMC Action News 5 and staff reporter for Memphis Daily News, her work has also appeared in The Commercial Appeal, High Ground News, I Love Memphis, Inside Memphis Business, The Memphis Flyer, Memphis Parent, Memphis Magazine and Tri-State Defender.