The Eye Institute’s Mission

The Eye Institute’s mission is to provide competent, comprehensive and patient-centered vision care to all who seek services, while providing the highest quality clinical education to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry’s optometric interns. In pursuit of its mission, The Eye Institute (TEI) offers a vast array of services to care for the visual needs of persons of all ages and to manage routine and not so routine vision and ocular health problems. In the spirit of being true to its mission and continuing its commitment to its community, TEI’s renovation project represents a $10 million investment in its Oak Lane facility through an expansion and renovation of its current facility.

The Patients We Serve

Our patients are important to us and we recognize that they are a valued asset to our clinical practice. The quality of care we render and commitment we have to our patients’ visual well being, have been returned in kind by patient loyalty, as demonstrated in their pattern of returning to The Eye Institute for their vision care year after year. Here are some facts about our loyal patients:

• There are more than 60,000 patient visits to The Eye Institute each year.
• Our patients range in age from one to 93-year-olds, with the average age being 50-year-olds.
• 65% of our patients are female.

 The “New” Eye Institute will enrich the patient experience by creating a pleasant environment and a design that supports a more efficient experience. The Eye Institute’s investment in our patients’ vision care experience is our way of saying thank you for years of loyalty to us.

The Renovation Project: Facts and Features

The project began in April 2010 and will take approximately 18 months to complete.

Phase I will involve renovation and build out of the clinical level of the facility. The first phase will take approximately 13 months to complete, which means clinical services will be provided in the new facility in July of 2011.

Phase II of the project involves renovation of the upper level of the facility, where administrative and staff offices are located. Phase II will be completed in October 2011.

• The architectural plans include a 15,000 square foot addition to the lower level and a complete renovation of the current structure. The rehabilitation of the existing facility’s interior will include new walls and layout, new ceilings, flooring, wall coverings, lighting and furniture, along with wiring that will support the future integration of electronic health records. 
• When construction is finalized, all patient care services will occur on the facility’s lower level. An exciting design feature of the lower level is the expansion of the optical department. The upper level will include administrative and staff offices, meeting and educational spaces, and an enlarged café/vendeteria.
• When complete, the clinical facility will have one central entrance located on the east side of the current building. This will allow for improved patient flow and enhanced security. This entrance will be accessed most conveniently through the current Godfrey Avenue driveway. The newly designed clinical facility will continue to offer free parking for its patients and staff.

Parking During the Renovation

Starting on June 1, 2010, all patients and visitors coming to TEI should enter through the Spencer Street entrance. The pediatric service will be temporarily relocated to the Spencer Street side of the facility. If you are driving to the facility, use the Spencer Street driveway and parking lots.

WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

At times, the renovation may cause confusion and inconvenience to our patients, as well as our staff and students. We will surely do all we can to minimize the inconvenience to all and to ensure services are not interrupted. We ask for everyone’s patience and understanding during this period. What we can promise is that in 2011, when the project is completed, The “New” Eye Institute is poised to enrich the community and the visual well being of all who seek our services.

Thank you in advance for your patience.

Throughout the 13 months it will take to renovate the clinical service level of the new facility, we will continue to operate all services.