Middlesex Community College’s Ophthalmic Design and Dispensing program recently held its annual Community Eyecare Day, wherein 40 residents from the surrounding community could get eye exams and new glasses that local businesses had donated.
Joyce Furman, a second-year Ophthalmic Design and Dispensing program student and one of the event’s co-coordinators, tells the Hartford-Courant that community college students benefit from the opportunity to practice their skills in their courses in a real-world setting. "Contact with the patients is the biggest thing,” she says. “It's the hands-on experience that we need.”
This video overviews Howard Community College’s Ophthalmic Technician Assistant Training.
The availability of free eye care clinics at community colleges can vary depending on the location and resources of the college. Some community colleges may have partnerships with local health clinics or optometry schools to provide free eye care services to students and the community, while others may not have such partnerships.It may be helpful to contact the health services or student affairs office at a specific community college to inquire about the availability of free eye care clinics on campus or nearby. Additionally, organizations such as the Lions Club and Prevent Blindness may offer free eye care services and resources in certain communities.