Clinic distributes free eyeglasses

Bagley Downs — Visionworks, located at 19171 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., is donating 10 pairs of glasses to patients in need through the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington. The Free Clinic regularly helps get eyeglasses in the hands of those who can’t afford them. The Vancouver Lions Club accepts donations of used glasses, refurbishes them and takes applications to distribute the corrective devices. The clinic assists patients through that process. But Vancouver optometrist and Free Clinic volunteer Sara Rondeau said those steps can take quite a long time. Her clinic is adjacent to the Mill Plain Boulevard Visionworks, a national eye care chain. After chatting with Visionworks store manager Renee Pichler about a need in the community for free eyeglasses, Rondeau said Pichler went to work getting company approval to make a donation to the Free Clinic. Pichler was able to secure 10 pairs, Rondeau said. One has already gone to a 10-year-old boy who is functionally blind, but whose parents could not afford glasses. Rondeau said distribution of the remaining pairs will be based on recommendations from herself and the Free Clinic. She hopes the generosity of Visionworks will inspire other local eye clinics to lend a hand. The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington is located at 4100 Plomondon St.