Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
Oakland Service Center
620 International Blvd, Oakland CA 94606 Tel 510-879-0971
Bringing vision screenings, eye exams, and prescription glasses to underserved students and community members.
What is iCare510
iCare510 is Tzu Chi USA’s grassroots vision care initiative, delivering free eye exams and glasses to children, seniors, and underserved communities through our Vision Care. Weremove barriers like cost, lack of insurance, and limited access – bringing care directly where it’s needed most.
Why Vision Care Matters
For a child, clear vision is key to success in school and life. Without glasses, students may miss out on lessons, struggle with reading, avoid participation, and lose confidence in themselves. With one simple intervention, we help them see the classroom – and themselves – clearly.
Our Mission
In cities like Oakland, many families lack access to vision care due to financial and systemic barriers.
iCare510 is here to change that. We provide:
Free eye exams
Presecription glasses
Vision Care Service to
School and Communities
Tzu Chi USA's
Vision Care Nationwide
Tzu Chi Vision Mobile Clinics operate in California, Nevada, and New York, offering free vision care to underprivileged and underserved inidivials and communities.
In 2024, the clinics served 14,687 patients, providing comprehensive eye exams and prescription glasses if needed.
How Our Vision Care Started
2
dedicated eye doctors
14
trained volunteers
Complete
portable ophthalmic equipment
Vision Care in Action: What We're Doing
Since its inception, iCare510 has brought free vision screenings, eye exams, and prescription glasses to students, seniors, and underserved communities.
In 2025, our Vision Mobile team served 469 individuals in the Oakland area, including:
469
vision screenings
133
eye exams
69
pairs of glasses dispensed
Each number represents a step toward equity in education and health, and a clearer path forward for those we serve.
Calling all volunteers! We need your help!
Tzu Chi Oakland is seeking compassionate optometrists and general volunteers to volunteer their time and skills to provide free eye exams for underserved community members. Many individuals lack access to proper vision care, and your expertise can change lives by ensuring they receive the eye exams and prescriptions they need.
Looking Beyond
the Smiles
This impact – quiet yet transformative – is what drives Tzu Chi’s vision care efforts every day. Behind every smile is a story of a child who can now read the board, raise their hand in class, and believe in their own potential.
Today, as we gathered to thank the Tzu Chi team, Olivia from their clinic said something that truly resonated with me: she looks beyond the smiles - she looks at the impact. Even the simplest gesture, like helping a child see clearly with a new pair of glasses, can create a lasting difference.