Po' and blind

July 19, 2005 3:16 PM

I live in Chicago and I'm on public aid. It's time to get new glasses but it's impossible to find out where I can actually get the things.

I paid out of pocket for my last pair. This time around I can't do that. Nobody at public aid can/will help me. I thought maybe they would have some kind of list of places to go but nope. Yeah I'm stupid. Tons of places will do the testing but I can't find anywhere that I can actually get the glasses to slap on my face!

posted by @homer to Health & Fitness (5 answers total)

Best answer: You are not stupid. Quit beating yourself up. There are a whole bunch of people who will gladly line up and do that for you. (I'm sure they'll show up here.) Just stop that right now. Every cell in your body is listening to the way you talk.
Your caseworker should have explained to you that the Illinois Department of Public Aid will not pay for eyeglasses unless they are ordered through the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Here's the relevant info. (.pdf)
The provision of glasses and other materials which are required to restore and conserve vision are a covered service. All lenses and frames are to be obtained from the Department of Corrections (DOC) laboratory. Optical Prescription Order (OPO) forms are to be attached to the claim form for the vision exam or dispensing fee. The Department will forward the OPO to DOC.
Your optician or optometrist has the paperwork needed to order your glasses, they should forward that with their claim for payment for your exam, and they should have a sample board of frames from the DOC so you can find something fashionable. If not fashionable, then at least free. Good luck!
posted by Floydd at 3:56 PM on July 19, 2005

Another possibility is the Lions Club -- can't hurt to make a phone call or two to see if they can assist.

Best wishes.
posted by davidmsc at 5:49 PM on July 19, 2005

I read an magazine article ~10 years ago about a company that manufactured glasses using interchangable parts. That is, the lenses were not hand ground. Instead the lenses were mass produced for a range of prescriptions. When an order came in, someone would pick the appropriate prescription lenses off a shelf and ship em out.

I think the glasses sold for around $30 at the time, maybe less. One of the company's goals was to supply inexpensive glasses to third world countries.

Unfortunately, I forgot the company's name, and I had no luck googling for it.
posted by malp at 7:50 PM on July 19, 2005

Here's a link to Lion's clubs in the Chicago area. Call them, they may have a program.
posted by sic at 7:10 AM on July 20, 2005

I spoke to a family member that is involved with the Lions Club and she told me that you can receive a free exam and glasses from some clubs. She gave me this phone number: Lions of Illinois foundation 800 955-5466. They can direct you to a club that is close to you.

Good luck!
posted by sic at 11:32 AM on July 20, 2005