Eye Care for Detroit

Bringing Vision Care on Wheels and Establishing a Clinic: Help Fund Our New Clinic and Mobile Eye Care Units.

Eye Care For Detroit: A Vision for Comprehensive Eye Care

According to the Vision Detroit Project (2022). Detroiters are at a greater risk of blindness due to several mitigable factors. These factors include: transportation, insurance-costs, awareness, and simply not knowing where to go. Eye Care For Detroit, Inc., (ECFD) with your help - can mitigate all of those factors.

As the founder and executive director of Eye Care For Detroit, Inc. (ECFD), I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of bringing healthcare directly to those in need. My experience are first-hand stemming from being born with congenital cataracts that progressively grew worse resulting in legal blindness by age 20. Through the support of the Sinai Grace Guild, I received life-changing cataract removal in 1997.

Cataracts affect over 24 million Americans, clouding the eye's natural lens and causing vision loss that impacts independence and quality of life. As we recognize Cataract Awareness Month in June of each year, it's important to understand that early detection can prevent unnecessary vision loss.

Today, our mission is clear: to provide essential eye care services to homebound seniors in Detroit, right at their doorsteps.

The Need for 6 New Mobile Eye Care Units

Our current mobile care services have been a beacon of hope, but the demand for our services far exceeds our capacity. To meet this growing need, we're seeking your support to fund 6 new, state-of-the-art mobile eye care units.

Our #1 Goal: 6 Fully-Equipped Ford Transit 250s

We're aiming to raise $450,000 to purchase and fully outfit 6 additional Ford Transit 250 high-top, long-wheelbase vans. These vehicles are ideal for conversion into a mobile eye clinics due to their spacious interior and reliable performance.

Breaking Down the $450,000 Investment (mobile clinics)

Here's how your donations will help us create a cutting-edge mobile eye care center:

1. 6 additional Pre-Owned Ford Transit 250 High-Top, Long-Wheelbase Van ($240,000): The foundation of our mobile clinic.

2. Van Modifications ($60,000): Necessary alterations to accommodate medical equipment and ensure patient accessibility.

3. Ophthalmic Equipment ($150,000): Including:

- Slit Lamp Biomicroscopes: For detailed eye examinations

- Phoropters: For determining accurate eyeglass prescriptions

- Tonometers: To measure eye pressure and screen for glaucoma

- Portable Autorefractors: To quickly assess refractive errors

- Retinal Cameras: To capture high-resolution images of the retina

4. Additional Essentials:

- Inventory of Frames and Lenses

- Mobile-friendly Electronic Health Record System

- Ophthalmic Chair and Stand

- Diagnostic supplies and consumables

The Impact of Your Donation

By contributing to our 6 new $450,000 mobile units, you're investing in a comprehensive eye care solution that will:

- Reach an additional 15,000+ homebound seniors annually

- Provide over 15,000 eye exams per year

- Distribute approximately 15,000 pairs of prescription glasses

- Potentially prevent thousands of cases of vision loss

Why Mobile Eye Care Matters

For many homebound seniors in Detroit, traditional eye care is out of reach. Transportation issues, mobility limitations, and lack of nearby facilities create significant barriers. Our mobile unit eliminates these obstacles, bringing critical eye care services directly to those who need them most.

Join Our Vision for a Clearer Detroit

Your support will help us build 6 more mobile eye care units that will serve as a lifeline for vision health in our community. Every contribution, regardless of size, brings us closer to our $450,000 goal:

- $250 helps purchase diagnostic eye drops and other consumables

- $500 contributes to our frame inventory

- $1000 helps fund our electronic health record system

- 5,000 goes towards major equipment like the slit lamp or retinal camera

- $40,000 sponsors a van purchase

Be Part of the Solution

By supporting Eye Care For Detroit's 2025 - $450,000 mobile units campaign, you're not just donating money – you're giving the gift of sight. You're ensuring that our seniors can continue to see the world around them clearly and maintain their quality of life.

Help us bring eye care to every corner of Detroit. Your contribution will make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

Our #2 Goal: Walk-In Clinic (Buildout and Expansion) in Detroit

ECFD also seeks to expand its permanent eye care clinic in inner-city Detroit to complement our existing mobile services. Our mobile care services have identified significant unmet vision care needs, particularly among underserved residents facing transportation barriers.

Breaking Down the $550,000 Investment (physical clinic - expansion)

The proposed clinic expansion and buildout will allow us to add 8 more optometry/ophthalmology lanes in another part of the building:

This physical location provides comprehensive vision services including examinations, prescriptions, and eyewear fittings. The clinic creates a stable base of operations while our mobile units continue reaching patients in their communities. Once billing systems are in place, the clinic will continue to be financially self-sustaining through insurance reimbursements and sliding-scale payments.

Together, we can drive change and bring clear vision to those who need it most. Donate now and be part of this vision-saving journey!

Thank you for your support. Let's roll out better vision for Detroit, one mobile exam or in-office visit at a time.