Seattle/King County Clinic returns after pandemic hiatus Oct. 20-23.

Seattle/King County Clinic returns to Seattle Center for a seventh year Oct. 20-23 with free eye exams and prescription eyeglasses for those who struggle to access or afford eye care. 

According to Washington Healthcare Access Alliance, vision care is one of the scarcest health services in the state for people in need – so as the Clinic approaches, organizers are focusing on patient outreach to make certain those in need are aware of this opportunity. 

Led by Seattle Center and Seattle Center Foundation, Seattle/King County Clinic brings together healthcare organizations, civic agencies, nonprofits and private businesses to transform Seattle Center facilities into a vision care operation. Licensed healthcare professionals and general support volunteers donate their time and expertise with a goal of helping more than 1,000 people in need during the four-day period.

Seattle/King County Clinic is open to everyone, and it is not restricted to residents of Seattle or King County – however, tickets are limited, and participants are admitted for service on a first come, first served basis. 

Organizers open the facility and begin to distribute free admission tickets in Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center (corner of 2nd Ave. North & Thomas Street/Lenny Wilkens Way) each day beginning at 6 a.m., with the doors to the Clinic opening at 7:30 a.m. Once the Clinic opens, patients are escorted to the service facility and admitted by ticket number to be registered and receive free eye care. If prescription eyeglasses are ordered, they will be distributed in early December.

Additional Seattle/King County Clinic details include:

• Face masks are required, though people should not attend if they are feeling sick

• Identification or proof of immigration status are not required

• Free interpretation services are available

• Free parking is available at the Mercer Street Parking Garage at Seattle Center (650 3rd Ave. North)

• Additional information is available at seattlecenter.org/patients

“Imagine going through your daily activities with blurry or limited vision,” said Julia Colson, director of Seattle/King County Clinic. “To struggle with even basic functions such as reading or navigating your environment puts a significant strain on your life. Often, health insurance doesn’t cover vision care, and there are very few options for free or low-cost prescription eyeglasses, making it one of the most under-resourced services for people in need in our community. Amid the current affordability crisis in our region, the Clinic offers some relief to people facing barriers receiving vision care.”

Statistics from previous years show that many patients who come to the Clinic do not have health insurance (52%), are unemployed (30%), and many are at or below the federal poverty level. They come from across the region, representing more than 260 zip codes, and speak 50 primary languages. Patients are parents, children, elders, veterans, immigrants, refugees, people living homeless and, in large part, wage-earners who struggle with the high cost of living. 

As one patient stated, “The financial burden of health care in America is prohibitive. Even for those of us working full-time with very basic health insurance, there are services I need that I can’t afford.” 

Seattle/King County Clinic is made possible through thousands of donated work hours as well as cash and in-kind contributions. In its first six years, that support helped the clinic provide $20 million in direct services to 23,000 patients. Donations are accepted at seattlecenter.org/donations. 

Clinic organizers are still in need of additional eye care professionals, social workers, health insurance navigators and interpreters to fill a range of volunteer functions and shifts. They also seek volunteers in early December to help dispense the prescription eyeglasses that are ordered during the Clinic. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Individuals may register at seattlecenter.org/volunteers.

“Every person deserves access to quality vision and health care, but, sadly, the existing costly, cumbersome, and racially inequitable system causes too many to fall through the cracks without getting the support they need,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “Seattle/King County Clinic is a great example for how we can create change and foster a healthier community by coming together through trust and collaboration."

Learn more about Seattle/King County Clinic at seattlecenter.org/skcclinic or by calling 206-684-7200.