No insurance or cost eye care clinic treats Houston County kids and families

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — For many Georgia families, eye care is a luxury they can’t afford. But this week in Warner Robins, a mobile clinic is making sure clear vision comes at no cost.

Thanks to a partnership between VSP Eyes of Hope, Visionworks and the Lindsey Student Support Center, children and adults are receiving free comprehensive eye exams and prescription glasses on-site.

“What we’re doing today is absolutely free—no cost to the patients at all,” said Nita Sidhu, VSP site leader. “The exam, the frames, and the prescription—it’s all included.”

The mobile eye clinic is fully equipped to test both vision and overall eye health. After registration and pretesting, patients meet with an optometrist who checks their prescription and looks for signs of deeper health issues.

“These exams help us look through the pupil at nerves and blood vessels,” Optometrist Dr. Fabius Clements with Visionworks said. “We can detect things like glaucoma, hypertension, or even diabetes—sometimes before people even know they have it.”

The need for vision care in Houston County is clear. Bonnie Brown with the school district says it came up during a needs assessment before the Lindsey Center opened.

“One of the biggest things that popped up was access to medical care—specifically vision care,” Brown said. “Lots of families either don’t have insurance or have Medicaid that isn’t accepted by local providers. So being able to offer this is huge.”

After their exam, patients head to the frame table, where they try on glasses and choose their new look. For many with single-vision prescriptions, the clinic can make glasses on the spot in the mobile care clinic. Others will have theirs shipped in the coming days.

“They actually leave with a pair of glasses,” Sidhu said. “And for the ones we can’t make here, we send the orders to the lab.”

The effort brings more than just sight; it brings equity, confidence, and care.

“We love our job,” said Sidhu. “And we love being able to bring it to folks who may not otherwise have access. Everyone deserves to see clearly.”

The event ran June 9 and 10 by appointment only, but local leaders hope this won’t be the last time the mobile clinic comes to Warner Robins.

You can find more pop-up clinics provided by the organizations here.