Florida Lions Eye Clinic

History and Overview of Programs and Services The Florida Lions Eye Clinic (FLLEC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2008 by retired ophthalmologists and members of the Lions Club who recognized a critical gap in access to eye care for underserved communities in Southwest Florida. With a commitment to preventing blindness and restoring vision, the Clinic was established to provide a full spectrum of free medical and surgical eye care for low-income and uninsured individuals. Since its founding, FLLEC has grown into a vital community resource, offering free, comprehensive eye health services that preserve sight and improve quality of life for thousands of patients. The Florida Lions Eye Clinic is the only free clinic in Florida to offer a full spectrum of eye care services to include exams, glasses, treatment, and necessary surgeries to low-income individuals without health insurance. The programs we provide compliment other local non-profit agency programs in the community, providing resources to the underserved, such as food, clothing, health care, childcare, education, and monetary assistance. FLLEC serves Florida residents, within the underprivileged population, defined as patients without health insurance and those who have no available providers in their local area, and are at, or below, 300% of the federal poverty guideline levels. The federal poverty line is defined as annual household incomes at or below $46,950 for an individual or $96,450 for a family of four. Families within these income levels often face significant financial hardship, making it difficult to afford essential healthcare services. The population served is often isolated from normal daily activities because of their lack of access to quality eye healthcare or are unable to afford it. Florida Lions Eye Clinic patients often have more serious eye conditions as a result of delayed eyecare due to a lack of accessibility and/or affordability. When patients arrive at the Clinic, most need medical eye care beyond that of an eyeglass prescription. Many are experiencing conditions that have progressed to a serious level and require advanced medical protocols. This loss of sight can impact their performance as an employee, impede their personal enrichment, or negatively affect their academic performance. The doctors providing services at FLLEC are volunteer and paid Ophthalmologists, all licensed in the State of Florida, covered under Sovereign Immunity through the department of health. FLLEC currently has two paid Ophthalmologists on staff scheduled to work part time. One has a specialty that is needed one day a month. The other has a wider range and is used one day a week on average. If our volunteers are unavailable, it can be up to 7 days a month. In addition, FLLEC has one paid Optometrist who works part-time at our new Collier County location two days a week and we are adding one day a week in Bonita to obtain growth in patients served.

Examples of such services performed by FLLEC doctors include, but are not limited to: Comprehensive eyecare treatment for underserved population Procedures for Glaucoma and Pterygium Diagnostic Test & Examinations - Comprehensive Eye Exams, Visual Acuity, Refractions, Intraocular Pressure Check, Visual Exams, Diabetic Eye Exams Exams, Cornea Evaluations, Cataract Evaluations, Amblyopia Evaluation & treatment, Strabismus Evaluation & Treatment, Macular Disease Basic Medical Evaluation to include Blood Pressure Testing Writing prescriptions for glasses and medications