![\"brannan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/54473897406_2833928665_6k.jpg\")
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Council Member Justin Brannan announced early results of the \u201cVision for All\u201d program, reaching over 200 New Yorkers in four boroughs. <\/p>\n
Photo courtesy of Emil Cohen\/NYC Council Media Unit<\/p>\n
Council Member Justin Brannan said preliminary results of his \u201cVision for All\u201d program show that expanding access to vision care can have a direct impact on quality of life and opportunity \u2014 particularly for families struggling with the city\u2019s affordability crisis.<\/p>\n
Since its debut in June 2025, over 200 New Yorkers have gained access to free eyecare, Brannan said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
He introduced the bill that created the program, Local Law 84<\/a>, in 2023. The law required that the city create a program to provide free vision testing and prescription glasses to \u201celigible\u201d New Yorkers, including people who are uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid, or are low-income and earning up to 250% of the federal poverty level \u2014 or $39,125 per year<\/a> for an individual.<\/p>\n The initiative is operated by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in partnership with the Community Healthcare Network.\u00a0 The \u201cVision for All\u201d program currently operates both mobile eye care units and several fixed sites across four boroughs, with plans to expand.\u00a0<\/p>\n Brannan was diagnosed with keratoconus \u2014 a progressive eye condition that can lead to distortion of vision \u2014 in 2016, said he understands firsthand<\/a> how essential vision care can be. In a statement, he emphasized that investing in preventative eye health will ultimately save money for both families and the healthcare system.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAccess and lack thereof to affordable vision care is yet another example of inequity hiding in plain sight,\u201d Brannan said. \u201cWhen you think about the basic needs we have, so many of which are only getting more expensive, you probably don\u2019t think of prescription glasses first. But there is overwhelming evidence that, for those affected, untreated vision problems are a major obstacle for low-income and working families striving for stability and success.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2022, roughly 12% of New Yorkers did not have medical insurance, according to city data<\/a>. Without insurance, eye exams and corrective lenses can be prohibitively expensive.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMaking sure everyone can afford a vision test and pair of glasses is about making sure all New Yorkers get a fair shake,\u201d he added.\n<\/p>\n![\"eye](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-kseniachernaya-5752254.jpg\")
More than 250 New Yorkers have gained access to free eye care since the program launched, Brannan said.Photo courtesy of Ksenia Chernaya\/Pexels<\/p>\n