CINCINNATI—With some vision centers closed and programming temporarily halted for OneSight as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofit organization is working to make sure there are still ways to care for patients in need, while ensuring safety for all. This effort will require some innovation and help, according to a OneSight announcement this week. OneSight is working to identify alternatives to its standard programs. This includes looking at quickly putting into use technologies that will allow the organization to continue to screen vulnerable individuals who need vision care support or bringing services to families and people in new environments.

These patients will then be able to receive a full exam as soon as it is safe for them to reopen full operations to resume.

Like many organizations, OneSight has capacity to take action, but its usual channels are not an option. As a result, OneSight president and executive director K-T Overbey told VMAIL, “We are looking at all different options to continue to support people [with vision care], both in the current situation and when we come out of this [COVID-19] situation.” The effort includes continuing to develop and refine a technology that would provide an initial eye screening to those in need of vision care.

The goal, Overbey said, is to have this technology up and running in a couple of weeks.

Initially, OneSight will focus on schoolchildren who may already be struggling with learning due to disruption, and also will look to partner with groups that support those who lost employment to make sure that their clients have the glasses they need to set them up for success in new careers or learning.

OneSight noted that it recognizes that many more may require help to receive quality eyecare as a result of the pandemic, so it is reaching out to current partners, potential partners, and other like-minded organizations to answer the question: how can we empower people with clear sight while keeping our patients, volunteers and staff safe?

Specifically, OneSight is looking to three key areas:

• Area 1 – programs that would reach people in different ways and formats.
• Area 2 – ways to leverage technology to reach people where health restrictions might limit them today.
• Area 3 – opportunities to combine strengths as organizations or partners in the corporate realm to help communities as a united effort.

For groups or individuals who would like to work with OneSight on finding ways to move forward in these areas or if there are other ways in which people feel they can work together, please reach out to Jenny McKinney at JMcKinney@onesight.org.