PITTSBURG — EyeCare for Women — a special program supported by the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund and Giving Circle — is providing eye examinations and, if needed, eye glasses for women who otherwise cannot afford them.

The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 3011 N. Michigan in Pittsburg, oversees this project which has already helped more than 20 women obtain needed vision services for as little as $10. In some situations, fees have been waived for those women in special situations.

“Poor vision is one of the most commonly untreated problems we encounter,”

according to Krista Postai, CHC/SEK CEO.

“Impaired vision impacts almost every aspect of living including personal safety and the ability to learn and work. In the past, we’ve been able to find resources for vision care for children but, unfortunately, the options for low-income adults have been extremely limited,”

Postai said.

“Thanks to EyeCare for Women, we’ve solved that problem for women 19 and up living in Crawford or Cherokee Counties.”

Eye exams are provided by a local optometrist by appointment and, if needed, contact lenses or glasses. Women are asked to pay $10 for each, but those with very limited funds may have these fees waived.

“Our primary goal is to get women the help they need to see better,”

Postai said.

“The purpose for the small fee is to replenish our funds so that we can make the money we have go farther. However, we understand that there are situations when even $10 is more than someone can afford. We don’t want that to prevent someone from calling us.”

Postai said that there is enough funding remaining to help at least 50 more women and she urges those in need of eye care to contact CHC/SEK. Besides poor vision, there are vision-threatening diseases such as glaucoma that can be successfully treated if detected early.

“We’ve found that many people have symptoms that go ignored or untreated — especially those on limited incomes. These are the women we’re trying to reach,”

she said.

Income guidelines to participate are based on federal guidelines of 200 percent of poverty level or below which translates into an annual income of $21,611 for a single person, $29,141 for a family of two, $36,621 for a family of three and $44,101 for a household of four. Again, special situations impact eligibility.

“A woman who finds herself suddenly unemployed due to her company closing or living in a shelter would get special consideration and her past income would be adjusted to reflect her current situation,”

Postai explained.

The application process is simple, she said, and anyone wanting to apply or needing additional information should contact CHC/SEK’s Case Manager Nancy Evans at 231-9873.

“We are extremely grateful to be the first recipient of funding from the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund and Giving Circle and the ongoing support of the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas of which it is a part,”

said Postai.

“Their commitment to improving lives will allow us to also make a difference one life at a time — and ensuring women have basic needs met is an essential first step.”