In conjunction with Ohio Department of Health, your local health departments hold vision and hearing clinics yearly free of charge for children 0 to 21 years old who are Ohio residents. There are no financial guidelines.

The clinics are held approximately three to five times per year per specialty, depending on the number of clients we served during the previous year.

The physicians providing services for vision clinic are Dr. Mary Payton (optometrist) and Dr. Richard Simmons (ophthalmologist). Dr. Payton grew up in Ironton and has returned to our area to practice.

Dr. Simmons travels from the Columbus area and has surgical privileges at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (formerly Columbus Children’s Hospital).

We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. James “Brett” Chafin as our pediatric specialist for ear, nose, or throat concerns.

He is affiliated with River Cities Ear, Nose, and Throat offices in Huntington, W. Va. as well as Ashland, Ky.

Hearing clinics will be held once more this spring on April 15. Vision clinic will be on May 6. The clinics will return this fall.

If you have a child needing to see a specialist in either of these fields please call 532-3962 for county patients, or 532-2172 for city patients Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.