Outreach @ JSEI

UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic

Established in 1975 by an anonymous donor, the UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic (UMEC) is considered the longest continuously operating eye clinic on wheels in the USA. For more than 45 years, UMEC has been funded by donors and grants to provide patient care and screening programs in neighborhoods where poverty and vision disabilities intersect.

UMEC plays an integral role at JSEI by combining community outreach and research. To accomplish this, UMEC and its staff of ophthalmologists, ophthalmology residents, technicians, medical students, and UCLA undergraduate student volunteers make visits to hundreds of Southern California community locations annually, including schools, free clinics, homeless shelters, and social service agencies serving vulnerable populations. The Clinic was honored as the recipient of the 2015 Innovation Award for Community Service by the Los Angeles County Medical Association and the Patient Care Foundation of Los Angeles County.

"The UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic (UMEC) envisions a world where all people have equal access to quality eye care services."

Research & Education

The UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic not only provides essential clinical services but also serves as an important platform for research and education at JSEI. UCLA trainees work with the research team at the Center for Eye Epidemiology to gain firsthand experience with all the steps of the research process.

Several research studies have been performed with UMEC assessing refractive error in children in Los Angeles, including the examination of rates of uncorrected refractive error in elementary school children and assessment of the relationship between geography and refractive error in preschoolers in Southern California.

Additionally, medical students have secured research grants with UMEC to assess eye health and access to care of LGBTQ+ populations, day laborers in Los Angeles County, farm workers in Kern County, and the effectiveness of various community outreach initiatives.

Vision IN-School Program

The Vision IN-School program is one of JSEI's key educational outreach initiatives focused on bringing vision education directly to local schools. This program promotes eye health awareness among children through age-appropriate education about vision care, eye safety, and the importance of regular eye examinations.

Working alongside educators, our team develops and delivers engaging presentations that teach students about eye anatomy, common vision problems, and protective measures to maintain healthy eyesight. The program uses interactive demonstrations, visual aids, and take-home materials to reinforce important concepts about eye health and safety.

Vision IN-School helps bridge the gap between clinical care and preventive education by empowering young people with knowledge about their vision health. The program reaches thousands of students annually throughout Los Angeles County, with a special focus on underserved communities where access to eye care information may be limited.

"Early vision education is essential for lifelong eye health. By teaching children about their eyes, we help them become advocates for their own vision care."