Introduction: The Fairfax Host Lions Club (FHLC) no longer has a special eyeglass distribution program for the needy in our service area. Those services are available through other means in Fairfax County, Virginia – including the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church. Our club conducts vision screening of pre-school and K-12 students at religious or private schools in our service area and refers them to a professional optometrist for testing if they are unable to pass the screening. Further, our club collects used eyeglasses at numerous locations in and around Fairfax and delivers them to the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center of Northern Virginia (LERC NOVA) for processing and use mostly by Medical Mission organizations providing health care to needy people in impoverished areas worldwide. FHLC also works with LERC NOVA to provide recycled reading glasses for homeless and needy persons at The Lamb Center in Fairfax.
Insurance: The Medical Assistance Handbook covering MEDICAID in Virginia and dated 1/1/2024 (www.dmas.virginia.gov) indicates that MEDICAID funded eye examinations are limited to once every 2 years and eyeglasses are covered only for members younger than age 21. Medicaid eligible individuals who are enrolled in a Managed Care Organization (MCO) may have differing services and benefits through the MCO. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) is Medicaid’s comprehensive and preventive child health benefit in MEDICAID and FAMIS Plus up to age 21. EPSDT detects and treats health care problems through regular vision check-ups, diagnosis of problems, and treatment of eye problems discovered during check-ups. Because children under age 21 are covered by MEDICAID, the focus of community-based support for eye examinations and eyeglasses is on adults age 21 or higher with no vision-related insurance.
Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) Support for Adults: FCHD is set up to assist qualifying adults in Fairfax County with eye examinations, eyeglasses, and eye-related medical problems. If you need assistance, call the FCHD Clinic closest to you and make an eye-related appointment. At that appointment, your eligibility and ability to pay will be assessed by a FCHD Family Assistance Worker (FAW). If you meet the required criteria for no-cost help, the clinic’s attending representative will meet with you, assess the need for eyeglasses or other eye issues, and accomplish one of the following:
- Make an appointment for you at the Inova Cares Lions Eye Clinic for a no-cost examination. The clinic is located near the Fairfax Inova Hospital on Gallows Road. The address is 3299 Woodburn Road, Suite 150, Annandale, VA -22003. If an examination indicates surgery or ancillary services are required, you will be referred to the appropriate ophthalmological specialty clinic. If an examination determines that eyeglasses are required, a prescription will be provided to you. Further, a referral form is completed by the FCHD clinic attending representative and provided to you. This form designates the optician/optometrist who will provide you with a new pair of eyeglasses and the participating Lions Club or other organization that has agreed to pay for the eyeglasses based on the service area where you live (identified by zip codes). A copy of the form is sent to the participating Lions Club or other organization as notice that the individual has a referral for obtaining eyeglasses and that the designated optician/optometrist will be billing the club or organization for the eyeglasses.
- Complete and provide you with a referral form like the one above except this one is for an eye exam and a new pair of eyeglasses.
Note 1: The new pair of eyeglasses includes a basic frame (selected by you from a limited number of frames) and single lenses (no bifocal or special lenses).
Note 2: The Joseph Willard Health Center, 3750 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax has closed and will be replaced by a new facility at the same location sometime in the future. They are believed to have temporarily located to the FCHD clinic in Springfield.
Fairfax Lions Club is one of the largest service organizations in Northern Virginia. Our members are from all walks of life, we give back to our community in many ways, and we have a good time doing it! We welcome you!