Aidpage

Dental Care
Lutheran Medical Center Dental
150 55th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11220
718.630.6875
Sliding scale fees between $15-$50 for the first visit, proof of income needed. Must make an appointment.

New York City Technical College
300 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY
718.260.5074
Provides cleaning, fluoride treatment, and x-rays. All services performed by dental hygiene students and supervised by licensed dental hygienists and dentists. All services are $10.

New York University David B. Kriser Dental Center
345 East 24th Street
New York, NY 10010
212.998.9800
212.998.9810, Community Outreach
Medicaid accepted, fee charged for uninsured individuals.

Eye Care
Kress Vision Program Of New York Downtown Hospital
170 William Street
New York, NY 10038
212.233.8483
“Provides no-charge eye health and vision screening and eyeglasses to referrals from agencies serving the uninsured underpriviliged who cannot otherwise secure such care.”

New Eyes for the Needy
549 Millburn Avenue
PO Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078
973-376-4903
“New Eyes for the Needy purchases new eyeglasses for poor children and adults in the United States and recycles donated glasses for distribution to indigent people in developing nations worldwide.”

Park Ridge Family Health Center of Lutheran Medical Center
6311 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11220
718.492.8233
Must make an appointment. Sliding Scale starting between $15-$50 for the first visit, proof of income needed.

National Eye Care Project
1.800.222.EYES
Medical eye care for US citizens and legal residents, age 65 and older. No financial qualifications. Referral service. Medicare or other health insurance will pay the cost of the care, if without insurance and in need of care, treatment will be provided at no charge.

Macular degeneration affects the retina. The retina is the paper-thin tissue lining the back of the eye. Light-sensitive cells in the retina are responsible for converting light into electrical impulses, which are then sent via the optic nerve to the brain for interpretation. In the very center of the retina is the macula. The macula contains the highest concentration of the light-sensitive cells, called cones, which are responsible for sharp, detailed, central vision that is used when driving and reading, for example. In macular degeneration, cells in the macular region begin to die, which results in blind spots and distorted vision.

There are two forms of macular degeneration: dry and wet. It is possible for a person to suffer from both forms, for it to affect one or both eyes, and for the disease to progress slowly or rapidly. Dry macular degeneration may advance and cause loss of vision without turning into the wet form of the disease. However, it is also possible for the early-stage dry form to change into the wet form of macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 60.

Dry Macular Degeneration

The dry form is the most common type of macular degeneration. This form, in which the photosensitive cells of the macula slowly break down, is diagnosed in 85-90 percent of cases. Yellow deposits called drusen (extracellular waste products from metabolism) form and accumulate under the retina between the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) layer and the Bruch's membrane, which supports the retina. Drusen are often found in the eyes of older people, but an increase in the size and number of these deposits is frequently the first sign of macular degeneration. Over time, drusen are associated with deterioration of the macula and the death of RPE and photoreceptor cells, resulting in a blurring or spotty loss of clear, straight-ahead vision. This process does not cause any pain. In the early stages of the disease, the patient may notice slightly blurry vision. However, as more and more of the cells die, central vision worsens. In its most severe form, dry age-related macular degeneration can cause profound vision loss, severely affecting a person’s quality of life. The dry form of macular degeneration has three stages:

1. Early - patients have several small drusen or a few medium-sized drusen. There is no vision loss or symptoms at this stage.
    
2. Intermediate - patients have many medium-sized drusen or one or more large drusen. Some people may need more light for tasks such as reading. A blurry spot may appear in the center of the visual field.
    
3. Advanced - patients exhibit a large number of drusen deposits, and a breakdown of RPE, photoreceptor (light sensitive) cells, and supporting tissue in the retina. A large blurry spot occurs in the center of the visual field and can become larger and darker, eventually causing a complete loss of central vision.

Wet Macular Degeneration

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow behind the macula as RPE and photoreceptor cells die. The Bruch’s membrane begins to break down, usually near drusen deposits, and new blood vessels grow. This growth is called neovascularization. These vessels are very fragile and can leak fluid and blood, resulting in scarring of the macula and the potential for rapid, severe damage. Straight-ahead vision can become distorted or lost entirely in a short period of time, sometimes within days or weeks. Wet macular degeneration accounts for approximately 10 percent of the cases of age-related macular degeneration, but it results in 90 percent of the cases of legal blindness. All wet macular degeneration is considered advanced.

Further Information

The following AHAF publications provide more information:

• Living with Macular Degeneration
• Macular Degeneration: The Essential Facts

Many state and national resources regularly provide aid to people with vision problems. The National Eye Institute, which supports eye research, does not help individuals pay for eye care. However, if you are in need of financial aid to assess or treat an eye problem, you might contact one or more of the following programs.

You may also contact a social worker at a local hospital or other community agency. Social workers often are knowledgeable about community resources that can help people facing financial and medical problems.

Eye Exams and Surgery

• EyeCare America, a public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Provides comprehensive eye exams and care for up to one year, often at no out-of-pocket expense to eligible callers through its seniors and Diabetes EyeCare Programs. Its Glaucoma EyeCare Program provides a glaucoma eye exam. The EyeCare America Children's EyeCare Program educates parents and primary care providers about the importance of early childhood (newborn through 36 months of age) eye care. Telephone: 1-800-222-EYES (3937). Website: http://eyecareamerica.org.
• VISION USA, coordinated by the American Optometric Association (AOA), provides free eye care to uninsured, low-income workers and their families. Telephone: 1-800-766-4466. Website: http://www.aoa.org/x5607.xml.
• Lions Clubs International provides financial assistance to individuals for eye care through local clubs. A local club can be found by using the "club locator" button found on their website at http://www.LionsClubs.org.
• Mission Cataract USA, coordinated by the Volunteer Eye Surgeons' Association, is a program providing free cataract surgery to people of all ages who have no other means to pay. Surgeries are scheduled annually on one day, usually in May. Telephone: 1-800-343-7265. Website: http://www.missioncataractUSA.org.
• Knights Templar Eye Foundation provides assistance for eye surgery for people who are unable to pay or receive adequate assistance from current government agencies or similar sources. Mailing address: 1000 East State Parkway, Suite I, Schaumburg, IL 60173. Telephone: (847) 490-3838. Website: http://www.knightstemplar.org/ktef/ktef-faq.htm#contact.
• InfantSEE® is a public health program designed to ensure early detection of eye conditions in babies. Member optometrists provide a free comprehensive infant eye assessment to children younger than one year. Telephone: 1-888-396-3937. Website: http://www.infantsee.org.

Eyeglasses

• Sight for Students, a Vision Service Plan (VSP) program provides eye exams and glasses to children 18 years and younger whose families cannot afford vision care. Telephone: 1-888-290-4964. Website: http://www.sightforstudents.org/.
• New Eyes for the Needy provides vouchers for the purchase of new prescription eyeglasses. Mailing address: 549 Millburn Avenue, P.O. Box 332, Short Hills, NJ 07078-0332. Telephone: (973) 376-4903. E-mail: neweyesfortheneedy@verizon.net. Website: http://www.neweyesfortheneedy.org.

Prescription Drugs

• The Medicine Program assists people to enroll in one or more of the many patient assistance programs that provide prescription medicine free-of-charge to those in need. Patients must meet the sponsor's criteria. The program is conducted in cooperation with the patient's doctor. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4182, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902-4182. Telephone: 1-866-694-3893. E-mail: help@themedicineprogram.com. Website: http://www.themedicineprogram.com.
• Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Telephone: 1-888-477-2669. Website: https://www.pparx.org.

Government Programs

• Medicare Benefit for Eye Exams
  For People with Diabetes -- People with Medicare who have diabetes can get a dilated eye exam to check for diabetic eye disease. Your doctor will decide how often you need this exam.
  For People at Risk for Glaucoma -- Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss. People at high risk for glaucoma include those with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma, or African Americans age 50 or older. Medicare will pay for an eye exam to check for glaucoma once every 12 months.
  Patients must pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible. Telephone: 1-800-633-4227. Website: http://www.medicare.gov.
• State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
  For little or no cost, this insurance pays for doctor visits, prescription medicines, hospitalizations, and much more for children 18 years and younger. Most states also cover the cost of dental care, eye care, and medical equipment. Telephone: 1-877-543-7669. Insure Kids Now! Website: http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/states.asp.

The National Eye Institute (NEI) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is the Federal government's lead agency for vision research that leads to sight-saving treatments and plays a key role in reducing visual impairment and blindness.

Kress Vision Program Of New York Downtown Hospital
170 William Street
New York, NY 10038
212.233.8483
“Provides no-charge eye health and vision screening and eyeglasses to referrals from agencies serving the uninsured underpriviliged who cannot otherwise secure such care.”

New Eyes for the Needy
549 Millburn Avenue
PO Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078
973-376-4903
“New Eyes for the Needy purchases new eyeglasses for poor children and adults in the United States and recycles donated glasses for distribution to indigent people in developing nations worldwide.”

Park Ridge Family Health Center of Lutheran Medical Center
6311 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11220
718.492.8233
Must make an appointment. Sliding Scale starting between $15-$50 for the first visit, proof of income needed.

National Eye Care Project
1.800.222.EYES
Medical eye care for US citizens and legal residents, age 65 and older. No financial qualifications. Referral service. Medicare or other health insurance will pay the cost of the care, if without insurance and in need of care, treatment will be provided at no charge.

Hello
Good news Cheryl called and she doesn't care if I use her first name she said but surgery was a success and all she has to do till Sunday is keep her head face down and she should be able to have 50 percent vision in her eye...Here's too you and I am glad it went so well. Now the hard part laying face down..
Will update when I can and she said thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts.

1)  I am a Psychotherapist, with nearly 20 years experience (including building new treatments models) in that field.  I have intensive studies in Psychopharmacology and can be expected to have up to date information re: Medications with which Mental Health dilemmas are treated!

Thus, I DO have assistance to offer -- particularly to those in emotional distress.

3) This said, I have developed a disabling condition of my own, and have "fallen by the way" these past few years..  I am currently on Social Security Disability.  I have Medicare, which fails to pay for things that I need (eye & dental care).  My income is $100 too high monthly to qualify for Medicaid.  I have specific, fairly urgent, jaw & vision problems that I would much appreciate help with at some point.  "Some point" is far better than "Never"!

Very Sincerely;
Mia

http://www.nei.nih.gov/Health/financialaid.asp

Click the link to access the various eye care programs listed below to see about any finanicial aide available to help you with any eye problems you may have......

http://www.aoa.org/visionusa.xml

See link for information.....

http://www.eyecareamerica.org/

Click on the link to see if you are eligable for a free eye exam and learn more about your eyes~

Author of the eye surgery blog.

Feel free to ask questions.