Norwalk Eye Health Fair Wednesday at Norwalk Hospital

The Norwalk Eye Health Fair will take place Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Norwalk Hospital, hosted by UR Community Cares.

The free blind and low vision health fair — in the fifth-floor patio room at the hospital, located at 34 Maple St. — will feature over 20 vendors, according to UR Community Cares Executive Director Michelle Puzzo.

“We have tons of folks that are coming out to provide lots of information,” said Puzzo, whose Manchester-based organization says it “connects volunteers with opportunities to assist older adults and individuals with disabilities, thereby strengthening communities and improving lives.”

Vendors at the fair, which is a collaboration of UR Community Cares, the Family & Children’s Agency, and Norwalk’s Municipal Agent for the Elderly, will provide information about their various services—from transportation to the local senior center.

“We have a music school for the blind that’s coming; we have transportation services; we have Filling in the Blanks, which is food services,” said Puzzo. “We have the Norwalk Vision Center coming; the American Macular Degeneration Foundation is coming; we have HUSKY Health coming; and we will have the Norwalk Senior Center.”

Representatives of the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation and the Connecticut Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind will also be on hand. “We are going to have a packed house with lots of good stuff,” said Puzzo.

Along with folks who are vison impaired, the health fair is perfect “for seniors, for people who are disabled and need transportation, their caregivers, their families,” said Puzzo.

While the event is free and no registration is required, anyone who would like a free lunch is asked to call 860-430-4557 to reserve their meal.

The American Macular Degeneration Foundation will be bringing virtual reality goggles “so people can understand what it feels like to have macular degeneration,” said Puzzo.

Free eye screenings will also be available.  “We are going to have ReFocus Eye Health there and they’re going to be doing some eye screenings, and we also have Norwalk Vision Center coming, so we have people covered from every angle,” she added.

Along with sponsorships, the event is being funded by a mini-grant UR Community Cares recently received from the City of Norwalk.

“We need to make sure that our eyes are functioning properly. Cancer can be detected by having eye exams, so having screenings so you can have preventive care is super important,” said Puzzo. “People don’t realize how important eye health is and this is really an eye health fair to get that word out to people—that they need to focus not just on their physical health, but your eyes are vital as well.”

Ligia Masilamani, vice president, community and behavioral health at Family & Children’s Agency (FCA), said, “The eye fair is going to be a wonderful way to discover resources that can greatly improve and enhance [people’s] lives, so I hope they will come to the event and learn about the services and resources that exist in our community.”

Masilamani added, “I’m looking forward to bringing education to seniors and I’m excited about this partnership with so many area organizations volunteering their time for our community.”

For more information, visit urcommunitycares.org or call 860-430-4557.