Vision USA is a non profit, tax exempt charity developed by Doctors of Optometry who are members of the American Optometric Association

If you know someone who needs eye care and may be eligible, tell them about Vision USA

Vision USA Rhode Island

Now a year-round program, Vision USA can help these people by providing basic eye health and vision care services free of charge to the man uninsured low-income people and their families who have no other means of obtaining care.

VISION USA, started nationwide in 1991, is a program developed by doctors of optometry who are members of the American Optometric Association. This program has served over 300,000 low-income working Americans and will serve more by accepting applications 12 months a year.

Eligibility
To receive these free vision services, individuals must:

·    Be working or part of a household with one member working at least part time.
·    Have no insurance that covers eye examination.
·    Have an income below an established level based on household size.
·    Have not had an eye examination in the past 24 months.

If an individual or family is eligible (eligibility thresholds may vary by state), they will be matched with a volunteer doctor of optometry who will provide a comprehensive eye exam at no charge. Eyewear may also be provided at no cost or for a small fee/donation in some states.

Do you want an application?

Visit the web site: www.aoa.org/visionusa
Write to Vision USA, 243 North Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141
Or Call 1-800-766-4466 (M-F 7am-9pm CST)

Zerbinopoulos takes first VISION USA Optometrist Award - AOA News July 2003

Vision USA has selected Rhode Island's own Paul Zerbinopoulos, O.D. as the VISION USA Optometrist of the Year.

Through VISION USA, the American Optometric Association and optometry are committed to providing free exams for uninsured, low-income individuals and families, who as income earners may not qualify for government aid or private health-care assistance. The award recognizes an individual who, as a volunteer, has not only been a long-standing participant, but also worked tirelessly to promote the VISION USA program in his or her state.

VISION USA honors Dr. Zerbinopoulos for his extensive work and promotion of the VISION USA program within his state. He appeared on the NBC Today Show with an eight-year-old patient who was diagnosed with and extensive detached retina during a routine eye examination. He has made other television appearances on Rhode Island Television. And much to his credit, nearly all of the 140 Rhode Island Optometric Association's member optometrists are VISION USA Volunteers.

His most recent contribution to the Rhode Island VISION USA program was last summer's eight -mile uphill bike ride in New Hampshire. He promoted the program by wearing the VISION USA logo on his racing shirt, and raised more than $2,000 for the Rhode Island program.

Up Hill Climb for VISION USA Rhode Island --- AOA News - January 2003

Raising money to support Rhode Island's VISION USA program literally has been an uphill climb for Paul Zerbinopoulos.

In an effort to raise enough money to eliminate VISION USA's 20-dollar deductible for patients in the state, Dr. Zerbinopoulos, the public relations chair for the Rhode Island Optometric Association, entered the event billed as "the world's toughest hillclimb" - the Volkswagen Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb. So far the Kingstown, RI, practitioner has raised some $2100 in sponsor pledges and other contributions in the process.

Called the steepest bike race on earth, the 7.6-mile Mount Washington Auto Road in New Hampshire has an average grade of 12 percent, with length sections up to 18 percent. The race ends with a fifty-yard sprint to the finish line on a 22 percent grade. By comparison, the Tour de France hill climbs average a 9 percent grade. An avid cyclist, with no real competition hill climbing experience, Paul finished 340th out of 600 riders. His race sponsors contributed $ 1000 of the money he has raised for VISION USA. The rest has come mostly from local Rotary Clubs as Dr. Zerbinopoulos has made appearances before community groups to talk about his bicycling adventure.

As the subject of several articles in local newspapers, the effort has also garnered some publicity for VISION USA, Dr. Zerbinopoulos said. Dr. Zerbinopoulos expects some additional local contributions. However, he estimates a total of around $4,000 will be needed to make sure VISION USA examinations are cost-free for any Rhode Island patient who needs correction. Additional contributions, made payable to VISION USA, can be sent to the Rhode Island Optometric Association. (Dr. Zerbinopoulos' wife, Pamela Blodgett, O.D. is the past president of the RIOA.) Dr. Zerbinopoulos encourages other VISION USA practitioners to undertake projects to help raise funds for the program. He is even challenging VISION USA practitioners to solicit sponsors in their areas and take part in the bike race this August.