Some Wilmington residents are receiving free eye exams and prescription glasses Wednesday and Thursday at the William "Hicks" Anderson Community Center.
Doctors at Simon Eye Associates are seeing more than 100 patients in the two days. Some patients are walking out with corrective lenses that same day.
"I have talked to kids who pointed up at trees and asked if those were leaves because before they could see each leaf, they had called them 'bunches,'" Lori Fanning of VSP Global Eyes of Hope said.
Fanning said her company's mobile eye care clinic has helped adults get driver's licenses and children focus better in school.
"A lot of times the children's behavior will change. Because before, they were frustrated that they couldn't see and they can't read. They shy away. Once they get those glasses and they are able to see, they get engaged," Fanning said.
Patients wait in the community center lobby while the two doctors perform about three complete eye exams each hour. There are income restrictions for the program, and patients cannot be covered through insurance for routine eye exams.
More than 60 vouchers were given to those who aren't able to be seen this week for an appointment and glasses, if necessary, through VSP, a vision care insurance plan.
Dr. Matt Schaedler said volunteering as an ophthalmologist is the best way to give back to the community.
"A good majority of patients we are seeing today are walking out with their glasses," Schaedler said. "This is the same thing you would get at our offices. We are dilating, checking the health of the eyes front to back today."
For those who need additional care or at-risk patients, Dr. Schaedler said his team is providing next-step referrals for surgery or treatments.
VSP travels around the nation to provide eye exams at no charge, and this is the first time it partnered with the city of Wilmington and Simon Eye Associates.
Mayor Mike Purzycki said he hopes to continue this program.
"It's a good feeling to have people put on glasses for the first time and see," Purzycki said. "To see clearly is something a lot of people take for granted. This is to make sure another slice of the population can simply have good vision."
One patient, Alexis Martinez, 29, said she found this setup to be extremely convenient after having lost her glasses and relying entirely on her contacts.
The employee at the community center said it has been at least two years since her last eye exam, but she knows some of those waiting haven't had their eyes checked at all.
"It's nice for the community. It's nice for people who can't get to the eye doctor, and it's convenient for them," she said. "I am just glad I have glasses now I can use. I can't function without them."
Contact Josephine Peterson at (302) 324-2856 or jhpeterson@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @jopeterson93.