Free eye exams for those experiencing homeless or who are low-income are being offered on Saturday, July 24 by appointment only. (Dreamstime)

By Alex Rawnsley

BRIGHT EYES

Free eye health exams offered by Nanaimo optometrist & Salvation Army

Jul 22, 2021 | 10:05 AM

NANAIMO — Two local groups are once again partnering to ensure everyone can see a little clearer.

The Salvation Army’s New Hope Centre in downtown Nanaimo is partnering with Eye Plus Optometry to provide eye exams for those who need them.

Leah Howroyd, residential services manager at New Hope Centre, told NanaimoNewsNOW the event is in its third year and creates a bridge between low or no-income people and health care services which can be tough to access.

“We did have a fellow in our first year who did have glasses, but he wasn’t able to afford a new pair. He could hardly see anything and he’d just been so used to being that way but he came in, got a new pair of glasses and it was like a whole new world.”

As of Thursday, July 22, seven appointments remained for the event, being held between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 24.

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Howroyd said anyone is welcome to book an exam which covers all the essentials of eye health and will ensure anyone who needs extra care receives it.

“If they are low income or they don’t have the means or resources to get their eyes checked they can do it here, there’s no requirement whether you’re low income or not. If you’re coming here, we assume you need the service.”

If a patient does have a government medical services plan it will be billed, but no plan or care card is required for an appointment.

“If they determine the person needs glasses or an updated prescription, they go ahead and pick out frames from their refurbished selection, try everything on then a few weeks from the appointment they’ll have the glasses ready for them,” Howroyd said.

The glasses are also free of charge.

Those wanting to book an appointment can call the Salvation Army at 250 754 2621 to speak to someone or leave a message.

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