Which service is commonly provided by volunteer ODs at health fairs?

Volunteer optometrists (ODs) at health fairs often provide free eye examinations to promote eye health and awareness within the community. These events are typically aimed at underserved populations who may lack access to regular eye care. By offering complimentary vision screenings, ODs can help identify vision problems, increase access to necessary eye care, and educate the public about the importance of eye health.

Providing surgeries for vision correction, selling prescription medications, or conducting vision therapy sessions are less common in these settings due to the complexities involved in each of these services. Surgeries require a surgical facility and appropriate equipment, and they typically can't be performed in a health fair environment. Similarly, selling prescription medications isn't a service aligned with the mission of health fairs, which focus on delivering care rather than commerce. Vision therapy sessions, while valuable, also require a more controlled and resource-intensive environment than what is usually available at a health fair. Thus, free eye examinations stand out as a practical and impactful service for volunteer optometrists to offer in this context.