Eye Clinic Volunteers

Since 1987, Church Health has provided quality, affordable health and wellness services to working uninsured people and their families in Shelby County. Eye care is part of our program because we know the profound impact sight has on a person’s social, financial and spiritual well-being.

At our new facility at Crosstown Concourse, we partner with the Southern College of Optometry at FocalPoint to serve our hardworking, low-income patients. But as the only community eye clinic in Shelby County, the need for our services is great. That’s where you come in!

Anderson-Phoropter
Eye Clinic
FCE Church Health, BLVD

Why Volunteer?

As an eye care provider, you know how important sight is for daily life and well-being. As a volunteer eye care provider at Church Health, you can provide care to those who need it most.

  • One four-hour volunteer session each month is all it takes to make an impact.
  • It’s fun! We have a state-of-the-art facility where your time and talents can serve those who do not have access to quality comprehensive care.
  • There are rewards! Through our Volunteer Give Back Program, you can earn valuable incentives including CPR training.
Eye Clinic Volunteer Application

FAQs

While some of our patients are diabetic, they will not be the only ones being seen. The expectation is for the volunteer to handle emergency patients and comprehensive eye exams. We are expecting refraction and dilated eye exams.

Yes, refraction care can be provided. Our patients may fill their prescriptions anywhere; however, we share a space with FocalPoint (SCO), which offers discounts to Church Health patients. Patients may choose from select glasses at the following prices:

  • $40 for single vision
  • $60 for bifocal
  • $90 for progressive

These prices include frames and lenses, and the price of additional add-ons is at the discretion of FocalPoint.

Church Health provides contact lens care. We refer our patients to FocalPoint for contact lenses. The patient must have a DFE from us within 3 months of having the contact lens fit. The prices are $75 for spherical or cortical, $95 for multifocal fit, and then the patient must pay for the contacts or take their prescription to another location.

There can be an orientation on technology. We have a Humphrey’s visual field, OCT, fundus camera, and optos available.

We use NexGen EMR. There would be a scribe using the EMR or documenting on a paper chart for you.

We have nutrition classes and health coaches on staff at Church Health. There are also DM wellness classes. 

Cataract cases are sent to MECA, which covers the cost of the cataract surgery if the patient provides financial documentation.

Church Health provides universal coverage for all volunteers through our medical liability coverage. However, we ask that each volunteer keep their individual medical coverage.

Our most commonly prescribed eye drops are glaucoma drops and artificial drops. They are received through patient assistant programs from various companies.

You would be supported by one certified paraoptometric and one optometry Scholar. Church Health Scholars spend their gap year at Church Health before moving on to medical or optometry school. Together, they can perform lensometry, handle equipment, take VA’s, perform chair skills, and triage.

We can try to accommodate times for you as a volunteer provider. We ask that you select a time that works best for you and your patient schedule.