After nearly 40 years of practicing optometry and organizing free vision care clinics both locally and abroad, I’ve learned that most people don’t go without eye care because they don’t value it.
Too often, barriers to care stand in the way.
Barriers like cost, insurance gaps, transportation challenges, work schedules, and family responsibilities can make it difficult for people to access care, even when they know they need it.
Recently, while volunteering with VSP Eyes of Hope, SEE International, and the County of Santa Barbara Health Department in Santa Maria and Lompoc, I was reminded that the need for vision care exists in every corner of our community. Over two days, we provided free eye exams and prescription glasses to nearly 140 local residents, many of whom had postponed care for years.
Residents came from all walks of life. Some were working adults. Others were retirees living on fixed incomes or parents focused on meeting their families’ needs. Many had made do with outdated prescriptions, struggled through blurry vision and headaches, or postponed care while prioritizing other necessities.
While their circumstances varied, the outcome was often the same: years without an eye exam and, in some cases, years of living with preventable vision problems. Their stories are reminders that access to vision care remains a challenge for far too many people.
An estimated 1.1 billion people globally live with vision impairment because they lack access to basic care, including eye exams or prescription glasses. While that figure is global, the need exists right here on the Central Coast as well.
This region is home to hardworking families, including many employed in agriculture, service industries, and other essential sectors that keep our economy running. Too often, the individuals who contribute so much to our communities face barriers to accessing preventive healthcare, including vision care.
That’s why community partnerships like the one between VSP Eyes of Hope, SEE International, and the County of Santa Barbara are so important. By bringing care directly into the community, volunteer eye doctors and nonprofit organizations can help address barriers that might otherwise prevent someone from receiving care.
These events do more than help people see clearly — they can also reveal important signs about a patient’s overall health. During a comprehensive eye exam, optometrists can detect signs of more than 270 systemic health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and other issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. I’ve seen firsthand how early detection of these conditions through an eye exam can support a patient’s long-term health.
During the mobile clinics in Santa Barbara County, I witnessed volunteers, healthcare professionals, nonprofit leaders, and community partners come together around a shared goal: helping people see clearly and live healthier lives.
Their efforts reinforce the important truth that improving access to healthcare is a community responsibility. Healthcare providers can volunteer their time and expertise. Companies and community organizations can help connect people with resources. Employers can support preventive care. And all of us can help raise awareness about the importance of regular eye exams.
No single organization can solve every challenge, but meaningful progress happens when communities come together.
For me, one of the most rewarding moments of every clinic is watching a patient put on a new pair of glasses and experience clear vision for the first time. Sometimes it’s joy. Sometimes it’s relief. Often, it’s both.
Those moments remind me why access to vision care matters. It’s not just about helping someone see more clearly today. It’s about helping them work, learn, drive safely, care for their families, and maintain their independence. It’s about supporting their health, confidence, and opportunities for years to come.
My hope is that these events serve as a reminder that vision care is an essential part of overall health and that everyone, regardless of income or circumstance, deserves the opportunity to receive it.
Dr. Rupert Chowins is a Central Coast optometrist, practicing for nearly 40 years, and Vision Clinic Director of the SLO Noor Foundation. He has partnered with VSP Eyes of Hope and SEE International for years to bring eye care to communities, including nearly 40 service trips to Guatemala.