More Than 1,500 Pairs of Glasses Made to Date for Affected Residents
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., Jan. 16, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jeannette Ramos of Brooklyn, NY lost nearly all of her belongings during Superstorm Sandy, including her glasses. After visiting one of two VSP Vision Care (VSP) mobile eyecare clinics sent to impacted areas in New York and New Jersey, she not only was able to replace her glasses for free, she also received an eye exam to ensure that her prescription hadn't changed and that her eyes were still healthy.
Jeannette is one of more than 6,000 residents in New York and New Jersey affected by the storm who received a free eye exam and, if needed, glasses through relief efforts committed by VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States.
"I never dreamed that I would get these awesome glasses, and these kind people, how generous they are to do this for us, it just means more than words could ever express," said Ramos after receiving her new pair of glasses. "We have been through so much out here, so to be given this is just amazing."
The two clinics spent weeks helping residents in the surrounding areas of Brooklyn, NY, Queens, NY, Union Beach, NJ, Toms River, NJ and Red Bank, NJ. Each clinic is outfitted with an exam room, eyewear frame dispensary and finishing lab allowing glasses to be made on-site.
Examinations were provided by local VSP optometrists whose offices were closed due to the storm's effects. These doctors were paid by VSP to ensure they had a form of income while their businesses were being rebuilt.
"Working with VSP has been a godsend, emotionally and financially," said Dr. Frank Derienzo of Newport Vision Center in Jersey City, NJ.
Derienzo's office was severely damaged by flooding and he worked on board the clinic in New Jersey since November 20. "[working on board the VSP mobile clinic] kept my head in the game and has given me a purpose during this time."
In addition to deploying the mobile clinics, VSP provided more than
4,100 VSP gift certificates, with a retail value of more than $1.6 million, which enabled those affected to receive a free exam and glasses from a local doctor. The gift certificates were distributed through the American Red Cross.
Additional aid by VSP and its collective companies, Marchon, Eyefinity and VSP Optics, in the form of discounted products, services and other contributions was also provided to local VSP eye doctors who were impacted by the storm so that they could continue to provide patient care.
For more information about VSP Global outreach, please visit vspglobal.com.
About VSP Global
VSP Global(R) includes VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States with 58 million members; Marchon(R) Eyewear Inc., one of the world's largest manufacturers, designers and distributors of quality fashion and technologically-advanced eyewear and sunwear; Eyefinity(R) which offers innovative solutions and the premier management software and technology to improve overall practice management and patient experience; VSP Optics Group, industry leaders in new technologies, production processes, service and logistics. Learn more at www.facebook.com/vspvisioncare
To date, through VSP community outreach programs such as VSP Mobile Eyes(R) and Sight for Students(R), and through relationships including those with the American Red Cross and Prevent Blindness America, VSP has invested more than $150 million in free eyecare and eyewear for more than 785,000 adults and children in need throughout the United States.