For over 25 years, I Care San Antonio has been providing vision care to uninsured, under-insured and insured patients. Over 35 doctors provide compassionate, quality eye care at the I Care Vision Center.

We provide:

• Complete dilated eye exams
• Prescription glasses
• Diagnostic testing
• Diabetic vision exams
• Cataract surgery
• Glaucoma specialists
• Cornea specialists
• Ophthalmology
• Optometry.

FREE Vision Screenings every Tuesday from 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM.

Full application and eligibility requirements can be found here.

Free to nominal co-pay.

Children learn by looking! TEAMability believes that children with Cortical Visual Impairment have the potential to improve their use of vision. Expert Education Specialists assess the functional visual skills of each child and design activities to promote Learning to Look.

We serve children 0-22 years who have combined multiple disabilities - cognitive, communication, sensory, motor and medical fragility.

Age 0-22.

This program is designed to provide for basic needs for our “neighbors". Time Dollar uses a two-step approach in our work.

The first step is called “giving fish” through our “Los Vecinos” (neighbors) program where we provide food, eye glasses through Prevent Blindness Texas and service referrals.

The second step is "Basic Case Management" where we offer help filling out forms, reading letters, providing service referrals and any other type of assistance required based on the need.

Christmas gifts are provided through Elf Louise Penelope.

Adults

Free

We have innovative technologies that assist visually impaired patrons in utilizing the digital programs we offer.

For use outside of the library:

• iPads are available for check out for up to six weeks. These iPads are capable of using Siri, and have a VoiceOver function to open up the apps we offer, such as Hoopla (music, movies, audiobooks), Mango Languages, or cloudLibrary (ebooks and audiobooks).

For use within the library:

• Focus 40 Blue Wireless Braille Display, which connects to computers, iPads, and phones using Bluetooth, allowing navigation through documents and applications using the latest Braille technology.
• The Braille Display also converts text to both contracted braille and un-contracted braille. This text is displayed on a Perkins-style keyboard, which makes it simple to read, as it follows along, mirroring word for word at your own pace.
• The Pearl Portable Reading Solution is essentially a camera on a folding post, which brings visually impaired patrons convenient portable access to any reading material they bring to BiblioTech. The folding camera opens easily and connects to a PC using a USB port, and works with OpenBook Software.
• OpenBook software takes an exact picture of the material, whether it be a book, a newspaper, or a magazine, using the Pearl Portable Reading Solution. It mirrors the image using the Pearl Scanner and reads aloud word for word. OpenBook will adjust the speed and tone of the reader, as well as the size, fonts, and color of the text to make your reading experience more comfortable.

Additionally, we provide:

• Magic Large Print Keyboard, with much larger keys than a standard keyboard.
• JAWS (Job Access With Speech) software, which is a screen reader for Windows that works with most computer applications.
• Magic Zoom, which magnifies the screen so you can zoom in to the desired screen size. Each innovative tool comes with its very own braille instructions, which are available to patrons upon request.

Visually impaired

The Children’s Education Program at the Lighthouse provides training to blind or visually impaired children and their families. The training focuses on providing the tools necessary to assist the children in acquiring the skills they need to gain independence and succeed in their academic training and life.

Our children’s program, located at 310 Eads Avenue, contains assistive technology equipment, educational toys, and adaptive aids to assist with this training. It includes a library equipped with large-print and Braille books, the Bertie and Selig Frank Playroom provides training specifically to infants and toddlers, and a technology room equipped with computers affixed with assistive/adaptive aids.

Ages birth to 18 years old with vision impairment or blind.

The Vision Rehabilitation Center at the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind & Vision Impaired offers evaluations on low vision, distance, near magnification and driving devices. We also offer computer modification for vision impairment, orientation and mobility, and video electronic magnification services. The clinic is a partnership with UT Health Science Center.

We accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance. We offer sliding scale pricing for low income patients and cash-pay incentives.

Our program is designed to maximize the use of any residual vision that the senior might have and provide practical adaptations to restore independence lost and maintain their accustomed quality of life.

Our services are performed by a vision specialist team and are tailored to the client’s needs. We provide a continuum of care beginning with referrals to and from medical providers working to control the progression of the underlying disease that has caused vision loss.

This may be followed with a prescription of appropriate low-vision devices and access to low-vision services to include:

• Training in the use of low-vision adaptive aids for the senior and caregiver
• In-home and group independent living training
• Orientation and mobility training
• Care coordination such as mental health counseling, support groups, and referrals to community resources
• Follow-up care

50 years or older with vision impairment or blindness.

The majority of jobs require that an individual be able to use a computer. Through our Technology Evaluation and Training Program, people who are vision impaired are trained on the latest technology available, enabling them to participate in academic, employment and independent-living environments.

Ongoing advancements in assistive technology such as screen readers provide speech output for computer access and closed circuit televisions (CCTV’s) allowing printed materials to be enlarged, creating opportunities for the vision impaired. These individuals are able to pursue careers and live independently.

Forty percent of individuals with vision impairments who are employed are now able to use computers on the job. Through this training, blindness is no longer an obstacle in achieving career goals.

The eye and vision care clinic is operated by University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) Eye Institute. The clinic offer comprehensive eye exams for adults and children of all ages. The staff of professional doctors includes both optometrists and ophthalmologists who are recognized leaders in their perspective fields. We incorporate traditional patient care with modern clinical technology. Along with some of the most technologically advanced equipment for diagnosing eye disease, we also have an on-site gallery of eye glasses to choose from. UIW Eye Institute understands that vision is a basic sense and one of the most precious resources to the human body. We offer the following eye and vision care services:

• Adult eye care

• Pediatric eye care
• Low vision and rehabilitative service
• Eye glasses
• Vision therapy service
• Diabetic eye care

Services

• Pediatrics
• Family Practice
• Counseling
• Dental
• Optometry
• WIC
• WIC Nutrition Program

• Provide financial assistance to the Converse Blue Santa Project for Christmas baskets and toys for the underprivileged within our community
• Eye exams and glasses for economically disadvantaged children and adults
• Youth Programs: Diabetic Essay, Outstanding Youth, and Peace Poster Contest
• Queens Scholarship Pageant (Judson HS)
• Dictionary Project (Converse Elementary School - 3rd graders)
• Sponsors bloodmobile visits
• Sponsors mobile eye screenings
• Recycles eyeglasses
• Recycles hearing aids