The Cincinnati Eye Institute Foundation opens fourth vision clinic

The Cincinnati Eye Institute (CEI) Foundation opened its fourth vision clinic on Monday, April 16, serving adults who need eye exams, prescription glasses, and diagnoses for potentially vision-limiting diseases. It is the only free vision clinic for adults in Middletown.

The Middletown vision clinic is one of four free vision clinics operating as part of The CEI Foundation’s community initiative to help underserved adults who may have never seen a doctor of any kind, much less an eye doctor.

“Children are so often the emphasis of eye care, and rightly so, but if a parent is unable to see, he or she becomes unable to support a family and the children come to school hungry and unable to learn,” said Patrick Ward, president of The CEI Foundation. “When you help a parent see better, you help a whole family.”

CEI’s Dr. Richard Kerstine and Sam Lobar with Atrium Medical Center Foundation.

The clinic, located at 930 Ninth Ave. in the former Primary Health Solutions clinic, will share space with the Supports to Encourage Low-Income Families (SELF) agency. Middletown health care organizations, businesses and area philanthropists donated funds, construction, equipment, space and staffing to make the 600-square foot clinic a reality.

Donors include The CEI Foundation; Atrium Medical Center Foundation; AK Steel Foundation; the Middletown Community Foundation; an anonymous foundation; Primary Health Solutions; Haag-Streit Holdings, U.S., Inc. and Reliance Medical Products, Inc.; and Oswald Company. Dr. Michael Mendoza will act as staff optometrist, and two CEI technicians will assist.

Atrium Medical Center Foundation was a main donor for The CEI Foundation project. “Atrium Medical Center Foundation is proud to support The CEI Foundation’s goahttps://www.cincinnatieye.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=553&action=edit#l to provide free vision care services to those in need within the Middletown community,” said Mike Stautberg, president of the Atrium Medical Center Foundation. “This clinic, and the services provided, will further our mission to help build healthier communities throughout the region.”

The remodeling portion of the project was completed by Oswald Company, a Cincinnati-based development and construction company.

“Oswald Company has supported The CEI Foundation since its inception,” said Robert Wassler, president of Oswald Company and a CEI Foundation board member. “We’re proud to assist in the preparation of the new Middletown vision center so that expert eye care can be provided to underserved people in the area.”

The CEI Foundation has other free vision clinics located at St. Vincent De Paul in Cincinnati’s West End, serving downtown and Over-The-Rhine; the Clovernook clinic serving patients in College Hill, North College Hill and Mt. Healthy; and a clinic at the Good Samaritan Hospital Free Health Center, serving patients in Upper and Lower Price Hill and Westwood.

“Our philosophy is to locate our vision clinics in the neighborhoods of the people we serve to reduce transportation accessibility issues,” said Amy Jones, assistant executive director of The CEI Foundation. “We’re eager to expand our eye care clinic operations so more of the underserved, uninsured population can remain independent and able to support themselves and their families.”

The Cincinnati Eye Institute Foundation wants to preserve vision for everyone, regardless of ability to pay. Patients seeking care at its free vision clinics live at or below 200 percent of the poverty line, with no public or private eye insurance. It’s imperative that adults get proper vision care; people suffering from chronic illnesses like diabetes may not realize their eyesight can often be permanently damaged by the disease, said Jones.

The Middletown vision clinic will be open the third Monday of each month and expand its hours as demand builds, said Ward.

To make an appointment, call the CEI Foundation vision clinic at (513) 207-6140.