News from the AOA's Blog

The need for AOA members to volunteer as VISION USA providers continues to grow as demand for services remains at an all-time high.

The need is particularly great in the second half of the year when current providers, who have already reached their agreed-upon number of assignments for the year, are no longer accessible.

Once providers reach their quotas, they are not assigned additional VISION USA patients until the beginning of the new year.

VISION USA’s pool of available providers in any given area diminishes as the year progresses and an increased number of eligible patients remain unable to receive VISION USA care.

The following states have more than 500 unassigned patients:

• Texas (757 assigned patients, 607 unassigned patients)
• Florida (441 assigned patients, 591 unassigned patients)
• Michigan (810 assigned patients, 517 unassigned patients)

The following states have more than 100 unassigned patients:

• North Carolina (907 assigned patients, 153 unassigned patients)
• Tennessee (163 assigned patients, 147 unassigned patients)
• Oregon (267 assigned patients, 134 unassigned patients)
• Virginia (293 assigned patients, 129 unassigned patients)
• Missouri (268 assigned patients, 125 unassigned patients)
• Arkansas (204 assigned patients, 116 unassigned patients)

“Optometry Cares – The AOA Foundation is so appreciative of the ongoing donations of its providers in all 39 states where VISION USA is operated,” said Martha Rosemore Greenberg, O.D., president of Optometry Cares. “The care provided by VISION USA providers is meeting the visual needs of thousands of low-income families who are in desperate need of eye care services.”

VISION USA participation levels vary among these states; their participation ranges from 9 to 29 percent of AOA membership.

Please consider joining your colleagues in donating VISION USA services.

To become a VISION USA provider in your community, simply send an e-mail to visionusa@aoa.org.