Establishing an Ophthalmic Screening Event for Refugee Populations in Columbia, Missouri

Abstract

Background: Access to ophthalmic care is a persistent challenge for underserved populations, including refugees, immigrants, and uninsured individuals, leading to untreated ocular conditions that significantly impact quality of life. To address this need, we launched the first student-run ophthalmic screening event in Columbia, Missouri, providing free, comprehensive dilated eye exams and vision screenings.

Methods: The location of this one-day screening event was determined by partnership with the University of Missouri’s already-established free student-run community health clinic, MedZou and Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri and use of their space. Patients from the refugee community were identified and registered by Catholic Charities and scheduled into fifteen-minute time slots. Both walk-ins and scheduled appointments were created. Data was collected through a cross-sectional survey conducted at the event and descriptive statistics were performed.

Results: Among the 52 participants of the study, the majority were refugees referred through Catholic Charities. Regarding ophthalmologic diagnoses, 5 (9.6%) were diagnosed with glaucoma, 3 (5.7%) with cataracts, 7 (13.5%) with hypertensive retinopathy, 28 (53.9%) with refractive errors, and 9 (17.3%) with dry eye syndrome. Notably, 17 participants (32.6%) required follow-up care, which highlights the urgent need for ongoing ophthalmic services. 

Conclusions: The high rate of refugee participants underscores that these screening events address a significant gap in care for these populations and providing data on the prevalence of ocular health conditions among this cohort. By providing tailored education, referrals to affordable follow-up care, and comprehensive screenings, we demonstrated the feasibility of integrating ophthalmic services into student-run clinics. This initiative offers a replicable model for reducing disparities in eye health, improving early detection of ocular diseases, and promoting equitable access to essential ophthalmic care, and we hope to establish this as an annual clinic event.