RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—VSP’s Mobile Eyes program provided more than $1.8 million in charitable eyecare services and education outreach during 2008, including response services to four major disasters, according to a year-end tally by the company.

Two mobile clinics—a second was added last June—traveled to 62 locations nationwide, providing charitable eyecare services to more than 6,500 low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals and families. More than 75 VSP eyecare practitioners volunteered their time, while 57 VSP employees trained and volunteered up to two weeks of their time to work on VSP’s Mobile Response Team.

“The mobile eyecare clinics are a reflection of our desire to join with VSP doctors to provide services to those in need,” said Gary Brooks, president of VSP Vision Care.

VSP's Mobile Eyes program began as an extension of relief efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The program, which allows VSP to respond to disasters immediately, includes the two mobile clinics—each with two comprehensive eye exam rooms and a full dispensary—plus 10 sets of portable ophthalmic equipment.

Partnering with VSP eye doctors, the mobile clinics responded to four U.S. disasters in 2008, providing charitable eyecare and replacement eyewear to those affected by Hurricane Ike in Texas and support and supplies for the Super Tuesday tornadoes in Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. The mobile clinic and personnel also provided relief and eyecare to fire crews battling wildfires in Northern and Southern California. ■