The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation (GLLF) provides teleoptometry services to 52 Georgia counties that lack vision care providers. With many residents in those counties living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, the GLLF goal is statewide coverage with satellite offices and quicker response times.
Better Access to Care Using Teleoptometry
Beth Ehrhardt, Executive Director of the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, says the GLLF began its teleoptometry program in April 2022 after volunteer optometrist availability declined post‑pandemic.
GLLF’s Teleoptometry Director Jachoia McKelvey says teleoptometry has been a “game‑changer” for consistent services across Georgia, and this technology allowed the GLLF to return to clinics that no longer had volunteer optometrists. She says the GLLF ran a short pilot and then acquired a second set of lane equipment. The program grew in late 2024 and now operates two lanes of teleoptometry equipment, with the ability to run clinics in two different areas on the same day.
Howard Fried, OD, and founder of the teleoptometric company DigitalOptometrics, developed the remote‑care technology used by GLLF. Dr. Fried says the system lets remote optometrists and technicians replicate the in‑person exam experience because it combines refraction with ocular health testing and retinal imaging. This approach improves health outcomes for communities with few optometric professionals.
Director McKelvey credited the partnership with DigitalOptometrics for accelerating service delivery. “The second set of lane equipment lets teams visit clinics monthly rather than quarterly, and many partner clinics have asked for more frequent visits. Teleoptometry allowed us to revisit clinics across Georgia and provide consistent vision services. I don’t know where we would be without it.”
How Does Teleoptometry Work?
The GLLF teleoptometry program conducts local pretesting with optometric technicians. Refractions occur onsite by opticians, while licensed remote Georgia optometrists consult in real time.
The program’s synchronous model has the doctor use a retinal camera instead of routine in-person dilation. Once tests have finished and prescriptions are issued, patients choose frames onsite and lenses are fitted at the Chamblee finishing lab. The typical prescription turnaround time is about four to six weeks, and finished glasses are mailed to the patient’s home.
“We have a pretty large frame selection,” Director McKelvey says. In fact, Marchon and other manufacturers have donated frames, and the GLLF program maintains over 100 styles.
GLLF recently deployed a newly-wrapped mobile van for teleoptometry clinics. Director Ehrhardt says GLLF will operate four vans: two for teleoptometry and two for traditional clinics. GLLF plans to double travel days per lane next year, which would double the program’s reach.
Teleoptometry Staffing and Policy Limitations
The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation employs local optometric technicians, but Dr. Fried noted shortages across the industry, which affects both optometrists and local staff who perform pretesting. A prior period of staff turnover briefly slowed scheduling, but the demand for clinics has remained high despite those challenges. Two optometrists will join GLLF this coming summer.
Both Director McKelvey and Director Ehrhardt noted legal limits in Georgia. Teleoptometry must take place in licensed health facilities under current state law. Director McKelvey says many rural partner locations lack adequate indoor space, and they have asked for clinic access at schools, community centers or churches. “Due to Georgia law, we cannot do that, but I hope in the future we can expand into community centers,” she says. Director Ehrhardt says GLLF is working with legislators to request a waiver to help aid those small communities.
Additionally, Director Ehrhardt says more funding and policy flexibility would accelerate expansion. She remains dedicated to broadening GLLF’s reach and continuing to help more underserved communities.
For GLLF’s impact on Georgia, click here.
For more about GLLF’s mobile school clinic.
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