NEEI Friends Network

Did you know that the New England Eye Institute is the region’s largest network of eye care centers offering community programs for vulnerable populations of children, elderly and the homeless?

New England Eye is proud of its role in the community and invites you to join us in improving eye and vision health by becoming a member of the Friend’s Network.  The Friend’s Network creates a foundation for NEEI’s service, research and related financial needs through the support of patients and community members interested in healthy vision.   

By joining the Friends Network and supporting New England Eye, you will assist us in providing accessible and affordable vision care for all.  With your assistance, New England Eye can continue to make a positive impact on our community.

Children's Vision to Learn Program

• According to the Boston Foundation “A child’s development from birth to age five is critical for academic, social and emotional success.  Children who participate in high-quality early learning environments develop better language skills, score higher in school-readiness tests, have better social skills and fewer behavioral problems and are more likely to be literate, employed and enrolled in post-secondary education as adults.”

•  Quality early learning can be impeded by poor vision. New England Eye Institute is already a leader in collaborative and community based vision care for children.

•  Over 2,000 handicapped and special needs children access care in NEEI collaborations with schools, rehabilitation hospitals and agencies.

•  Over 5,000 Head Start and School Children receive free vision screening from NEEI Mobile Care Teams.

•  Over 13,000 Boston children receive eye exams and treatment at NEEI affiliated Community Health Centers.

Elder Right to Sight Program

• Elders are the fastest growing and most vulnerable population of people with sight loss. 

• Vision impairment threatens the elder with loss of independence and ability to live safely in their own homes. 

• Sight loss is often frightening, frustrating and can severely impact the individual and their entire family.

• New England Eye Institute is Boston’s only provider of mobile eye care and low vision rehabilitation. New England Eye’s mobile care teams served over 1,500 elders in 2003 and is looking to continue to reach more elders in need in the coming years. Of great concern is the over 50,000 visually impaired elders living alone in eastern Massachusetts. This population is at high risk to suffer the consequences of lack of vision rehabilitation and home based eye services.

Homeless Vision to Care Program

• Since the 1980’s the New England Eye Institute has been Boston’s only multi-site and mobile vision care provider for Boston’s homeless. 

•  Over 10,000 Massachusetts families experience homelessness each year.

•  Over 8,000 individual seek care from Boston Health Care for the Homeless each year.

•  In 2003 over 2,000 homeless individuals were served by New England Eye Institute.  In the next three years NEEI is looking to expand its Homeless Vision to Care Program by nearly 60%, with the goal of servicing almost 3,200 of the area’s homeless.

• “All homeless people need good vision in their struggle against persistent poverty,” stated Dr. Barry Barresi, President of New England Eye Institute.  “We have made it part of our mission to help the homeless improve their lives and contribute their talents to society; now we need the help of society to meet our goals.”

Contribute to the Friends Network and join others in making a difference today!

To Contribute and Join the Network

Please consider joining the Friend’s Network and making a contribution to New England Eye today. Your tax deductible contribution can help us make a difference in the program of your choice. 

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