Bringing vision care closer to home
When Dr. Jessica Wood realized how many Island seniors were missing out on eye exams because they couldn’t get to a clinic, she knew something had to change. As an optometrist working across Prince County, she often met patients for whom travel was a major barrier, or simply not possible.
She recalls one patient in particular whose mobility issues made getting to the clinic a major challenge. It was clear to Wood that the patient’s limited range of movement made it impossible to complete a full exam in her clinic.
Wood began to imagine what it would take to bring full eye exams directly to patients in long-term and community care homes. After seeing mobile clinics offered in places like New Brunswick, she knew something like that could work here too.
To make it happen, she needed portable versions of all the tools used in a typical eye clinic. The cost was high, and she didn’t want that expense to fall to patients. That’s when she discovered the Health Innovation Fund.
“It was like the Health Innovation Fund came at the EXACT right time,” she says. “I sent in my application just before the deadline and got the news that I received funding just before Christmas. It felt like it was meant to be.”
With the help of the fund, she was able to buy the equipment needed to launch her mobile service. Today, she splits her time between clinics in Summerside, O’Leary, and Alberton, and visiting long-term care homes across Prince County bringing essential eye care to people who may not have had an exam in decades.
Her visits don’t add extra work for staff at the facilities aside from helping choose a date and pointing her to a space where she can set up. The rest, Wood handles on her own.
One of her patients had cloudy vision after cataract surgery but didn’t think it was worth fixing. After Dr. Wood encouraged her to have the quick procedure, the patient was thrilled.
“She told me she didn’t know how fast she could read until she actually could,” Wood said.
“Now she can see her phone better, watch TV clearly, and even use more bingo cards at once!”
Stories like these are a reminder of how even small changes in care delivery can make a big difference by helping people maintain their independence, comfort, and quality of life.
Information about scheduling an appointment for a mobile eye exam is provided to residents and their families at participating long-term and community care homes in Prince County.
Visit 2024-2025 Health Innovation Fund to learn more about the fund.