Health and Dentistry Lorain Ohio

"If you can get someone a pair of glasses, you can't imagine the impact that makes."

Lorain County Health & Dentistry is now offering eye exams and eyeglasses to the insured and uninsured.Plain Dealer file

LORAIN, Ohio - Lorain County Health & Dentistry, which provides primary medical and dental care to local residents regardless of their ability to pay, is now offering comprehensive eye exams, prescription eye glasses and other optical care.

And you don’t have to have insurance, live in Lorain County or be a Health & Dentistry patient to take advantage of the new services.

Fifty-six area Lions clubs raised about $257, 000 for diagnostic and testing equipment for the 1, 100-square-foot vision clinic, which is staffed by a full-time optometrist and optometric technician and open 40 hours a week. Patients who need surgical eye care will receive that from area ophthalmologists.

The public can tour the vision clinic and other areas of Lorain County Health & Dentistry’s newest location, 1205 Broadway Ave. in Lorain, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16.

A 2011 survey found that 33 percent of the clinic’s patients had never been to an eye doctor, a big problem considering how many of them have diabetes, said Stephanie Wiersma, president and CEO of Lorain County Health & Dentistry.

“Diabetic patients are at risk for developing retinopathy and other diseases that can affect sight, Wiersma said. “I think the standard of care is that diabetic patients should get an eye exam at least annually and we struggled with helping our patients do that.”

Wiersma credits the Lions with changing that.

“I have never seen a more committed and devoted group of individuals, ” she said. “They have been outstanding in their dedication and because of that they raised $257, 000.

“This really will forever change the lives of the people that access vision care. If you can get someone a pair of glasses, you can’t imagine the impact that makes.”

Lorain County Health & Dentistry, a federally funded clinic with three locations in Lorain and Elyria, also provides women’s and children’s health care, adult and family medicine, podiatry, asthma and allergy services and general dentistry. It will open another location next month in the Wilkes Villa public housing community in Elyria.

In addition to serving patients who have health coverage - charging them on a sliding scale depending on income - it accepts Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurance.

To schedule an appointment for an eye exam or other health services at Lorain County Health & Dentistry, call 440-240-1655. If you’re uninsured, you’ll be asked to meet first with a patient financial representative to determine how much of a discount you’re eligible for based on your income.