The Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation has donated $100,000 to Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation’s vision screening program.
Established in 2022 as Georgia’s first-ever, nonprofit, statewide tele-optometry vision exam pilot, the initiative was created with the goal of improving vision care access for uninsured and underinsured individuals across Georgia.
By utilizing innovative technology, Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation said that it is able to provide a range of remote services — including vision screenings and full eye exams, among others — in areas of the state with no access to eye care.
“There is a shortage of optometrists and ophthalmologists in Georgia,” said Beth Ehrhardt, executive director of Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Inc. “Today, 52 counties in Georgia have little to no vision services.”
Since launching the program, the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation has executed more than 200 tele-optometry clinics, serving over 2,100 patients in 30 counties during that time.
Larry Wynn, the executive director of the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation, highlighted the importance of supporting Georgians that require critical vision care.
“Meeting Georgians where they live and providing vital health services to those in need resonates with our mission,” said Wynn.
“We anticipated a strong return in the quality of life for Georgians who receive vision services through this innovative state-of-the-art program …”
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