Eyewear benefit scheme to end

Budget Eyeware Tweed Heads South’s Eddy Viegas is shocked the VisionCare program is ending.

Colin Gilmore

THE end is in sight for VisionCare.

The program that aims to provide responsive, efficient and cost effective delivery of quality visual aids to those in need will cease supplying benefits from February 29.

Budget Eyewear Tweed Heads South manager Eddy Viegas said he would be cutting his base-frames to $50 in response.

It is a move he knows may not make a large impact on what he said was "a bit of a shock".

"As awful as it is to say, it's a service a lot haven't wanted to deal with," Mr Viegas said.

"It's a demographic (using the service) which doesn't have a lot of cash, but they have the same rights and needs as everyone else."

The not-for-profit program funded by the Department of Family and Community Services through the University of NSW was cancelled due to a lack of funds and, partly, demand.

The government will recommence funding the program from July 1, 2012, but Mr Viegas said he was not sure about that.

"Normally when they cancel something like this because there's no funds, unless they get a big injection of funds, that's it.

"It's going to affect a lot of people that don't have the money to buy a frame.

"My frames start at about $100, which to most working people might not seem a lot, but to a pensioner who's already struggling - it'll be tough.

"So I'm going to put my prices down to $50 for anyone with a pension card.

"I live here, and have for a long time, and cash is not a big commodity around here.

"As a work ethic it's up to you to provide the service."

90- year-old sight-impaired Uki resident Joy Armour said it was a "damn shame".

"I've got a talking watch through the vision shop, and it's been about five or six years since I first went to them," Ms Armour said.

"It has been helpful: I get a lot of books on tape from them, and you can always send them back when they've got a lot of swear words."

She said it would impact on sight-impaired children who previously received support through the program.

"And it costs a lot of money to do that.

"When I could I've sent them a bit of a donation.

"It will be very sad, I reckon, though I can manage as I'm not totally blind."

The program will accept no more applications from February 10 and all made prior to that must still be received by VisionCare by the following Wednesday.

Vision Care NSW has been administrating the Spectacle Program since 1992.

Visit visioncarensw.com.au for more information.