(Providence, RI)  On November 18, 2009, The Rhode Island Free Clinic (RIFC) cut the ribbon on its new examination room dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of the most common eye diseases.  The room and equipment are made possible through generous grants from the Fred M. Roddy Charitable Foundation and Textron.

The new facility has equipment that can examine the eye and surrounding structures inside and out.  There are devices to measure the pressure inside the eye as a means of screening for glaucoma along with sophisticated lenses that can look into the back of the eye to detect changes caused by diabetes, high blood pressure or macular degeneration.

The clinic will be staffed on the second Wednesday of every month thanks to the generosity of ophtahlmologist Philip R. Rizzuto, MD, and some of his employees.  Dr. Rizzuto is president of the Rhode Island Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons and has a practice in Providence.  Additional volunteers will allow for additional examination times for patients.

"This is one more service we are pleased to offer for the benefit of our pataients," said Lynne Urbani, CEO of the Rhode Island Free Clinic.  "With the addition of an on-site pharmacy earlier this year, and now eye care, we are becoming more and more of a one stop source for most of our patients' healthcare needs.  We are deeply grateful to the Fred M. Roddy Foundation and Textron for their contributions, as well as the volunteer efforts of Dr. Rizzuto and his staff," Ms. Urbani added.

Textron is pleased to partner with the RI Free clinic to help bring this important and needed health service to area residents," said Cate Roberts, Director of Community Affairs for Textron.

The Rhode Island Free Clinic is the only licensed ambulatory care facility in Rhode Island to serve the uninsured exclusively.  RIFC draws upon a successful ten year history of providing high quality, comprehensive primary care to adults between the ages of 19 and 64.