The Eye Institute Continues Its Commitment to Community Eyecare with CVIM Partnership

From Philadelphia to Chester County, The Eye Institute (TEI) of Drexel University is working to bring eye care closer to patients and communities who may face barriers to accessing care.

This summer, TEI expanded its reach to West Chester and surrounding communities through its ongoing partnership with the Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM). Over five all-day events in July and August, TEI doctors, staff, and optometric interns provided comprehensive eye care and vision services to members of the Chester County community, helping patients address vision needs that may otherwise have gone untreated. The events also offered Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) doctorate students valuable hands-on experience caring for patients in a community-based setting. 

CVIM is a community-based healthcare organization that provides medical services to uninsured individuals and families in Chester County who may otherwise have limited access to these services. Through its partnership with CVIM, TEI has helped bring much-needed eye care directly to patients where they are, reducing some of the barriers that can make it difficult to access vision care.

For many patients served through CVIM, the impact went far beyond a routine eye exam. For patients who have never had access to an eye exam, being able to receive care can be an important first step in identifying vision concerns and addressing unmet eye care needs, improving their ability to see clearly. “A lot of people have never had an eye exam ever, so it really makes a huge impact,” said Rachel Bierly, director of Clinic Operations at CVIM.

This past summer, TEI’s team examined 133 patients and prescribed glasses to almost all of those who received an exam. Together, these efforts addressed CVIM’s eye care waitlist, helping patients who had been waiting for vision services receive the care they needed. The number of patients waiting for eye care ranged from approximately 100 to 400 throughout the year, highlighting the ongoing need for accessible eye care in the community. This collaboration has continued to grow over the years in response to this need.

As TEI and PCO continue their work with CVIM, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving access to quality eye care while preparing future optometrists to serve the diverse needs of the communities around them.