Catholic Health Launches Vision for the Future Community Health Program in Partnership with Caitlyn’s Vision

Catholic Health today announced the launch of its “Vision for the Future” program, a new initiative aimed at expanding access to essential eye care for visually impaired children in across Long Island. Developed in partnership with Caitlyn’s Vision—a local nonprofit dedicated to providing eyeglasses to those in need—and supported by Versant Health, the program will deliver free monthly vision screenings, follow-up optometry exams, and prescription glasses to children in underserved communities.

“It’s our mission at Catholic Health to go out into our communities and provide care to those who need it most,” said Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO, MBA, president and CEO of Catholic Health. “Initiatives like Vision for the Future, which prioritize prevention and early detection, are key to building healthier communities. We’re proud to partner with Caitlyn’s Vision and Versant Health to address a key health issue in our region.”

Supported by a one-year grant from the New York Community Trust, Catholic Health purchased multiple Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screeners—portable camera-based devices that quickly detect amblyopic risk factors—to launch the Vision for the Future program. Catholic Health’s Community Outreach Buses, each staffed with registered nurses and bilingual social workers, will be equipped with Spot Vision Screeners, the gold standard of early detection in pediatric optometry.

If a Catholic Health vision screening and optometry appointment determine a patient needs corrective lenses, Caitlyn’s Vision will provide free frames, with Versant Health supplying prescription lenses for patients not covered by insurance.

“At Versant Health, we believe every child deserves access to healthy vision to support learning, confidence, and lifelong wellness,” said Meredith Ryan-Reid, CEO of Versant Health. “Through this partnership, we’re helping remove barriers to care so more students can see the board, engage in the classroom, and reach their full potential.”

To kick off the Vision for the Future program, Catholic Health and Caitlyn’s Vision recently hosted a demonstration screening event at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach. The event featured a demonstration by Lawrence Eisenstein, MD, vice president and chief public and community health officer at Catholic Health, and highlighted the work of Caitlyn Michiels, founder of Caitlyn’s Vision and student at William Floyd High School.

“This moment is incredibly meaningful to me because it represents six years of believing in something bigger than myself,” said Ms. Michiels. “What started as a simple idea, that every child deserves access to clear vision, has now become a reality. Through the support of Catholic Health and Versant Health, we are able to provide not only screenings, but also eyeglass lenses and frames completely free of charge, removing the financial and logistical barriers that so many families face. To see this dream come to life is truly surreal, and it’s only the beginning of the impact we hope to make in communities everywhere.”

The event was attended by local elected officials and community members, including Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. “Suffolk County is proud to partner with our communities to ensure our residents have access to essential services and vital public health resources that will improve their lives,” said Romaine. “Thanks to the leadership of Catholic Health and the advocacy of Caitlyn’s Vision, children in our communities now have additional access to vision screenings and opportunities for prescription glasses as needed.”

To learn more about Catholic Health’s community health initiatives and contact the Catholic Health Community Outreach Bus, call 516-705-2595 or visit https://www.catholichealthli.org/catholic-health-community-health.