Service Learning Equals Meaningful Skills for Optometry Students

As a volunteer for The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) and Vision to Learn pediatric event, Gilda “Gigi” Florentino Aponte ‘26OD was happy to learn it turned out to be an extremely valuable experience in her optometric training.

“It helped me build my confidence while working with the pediatric population,” she said. “It really helped sharpen some of my skills.” 

The event was one of two community events held in September 2024, organized and sponsored by Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM), a free healthcare center that serves low-income, uninsured individuals and families in Chester County, staffed mostly by volunteers. The Eye Institute provided exams to adults during the first event while the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Cambridge Springs, located in Crawford County, Pennsylvania provided glasses.  

Optometrists and Doctor of Optometry students from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), Salus at Drexel University, partnered with CVIM and Vision to Learn, a program that provides free vision care in low-income communities in the Philadelphia area, to provide comprehensive eye exams to 24 pediatric patients, 22 of whom needed glasses, at one of the events. 

“It was interesting to work with the pediatric population,” said Aponte. “I had the opportunity to get hands-on experience with the Ophthalmic scope and 20D lens while preforming a fundoscopic exam. I learned how to be more efficient in pediatrics.” 

According to Rachel Bierly, director of Clinic Operations at CVIM, the event was created to address the increased need for pediatric eye care this year.  

“As we increased pediatric school physical appointments, we also identified more patients that failed their vision screenings than could be accommodated by our usual summer Vision to Learn clinics,” said Bierly. “Additionally, some patients required more comprehensive eye care beyond what Vision to Learn could provide. Partnering with PCO/Salus helped us manage the increased demand for pediatric eye exams and provide in-depth care where needed.” 

The exams conducted by the PCO doctors and students covered various aspects of eye health and vision, all tailored to each patient’s needs. Vision to Learn supplied free eyeglasses to all patients who needed them, ensuring that those identified with vision issues could receive the necessary corrective lenses. 

Bierly added that CVIM’s partnership with PCO/Salus and Vision to Learn, significantly cuts wait times for eye care services, which enables many patients — both adults and children — to receive their first eye exams and glasses.  

“These resources are crucial for helping students succeed in school, especially for those who received eyeglasses their families could not afford to buy,” she said. “Beyond immediate patient care, these events also inspire healthcare students to develop a commitment to serving underserved communities, potentially helping many more patients in the future.”