The Guerrilla Eye Service of the UPMC Eye Center is dedicated to eliminating barriers to eye care for patients in the Western Pennsylvania area.

A group of medical student volunteers pose together inside a clinic waiting room, all wearing masks.

Medical student volunteers pose in front of the entrance to a clinic. All of them are wearing masks. A portion of a UPMC sign is showing.

GES is staffed by students, residents, and faculty who are dedicated to providing comprehensive eye care to the residents of our area who would otherwise go without. Evan L. Waxman, MD, PhD founded the organization and provides consistent guidance and medical oversight.

We travel around the region and set up free eye clinics 2-3 times a month during the academic year and around once a month during the summer. Regular locations include the Birmingham Clinic (Southside), Squirrel Hill Health Center, East End Community Health Center, McKeesport 9th St. Clinic, Mexican Consulate visits, the Organization of Chinese Americans, and clinics in Butler, Waynesburg, and Greensboro, PA.

We have served at 12 different clinical sites in Western PA – and counting!

Click here to view a map of each location.

GES Locations Map

Map of Western Pennsylvania with green location markers. Most are centralized around Pittsburgh, and there are a few to the north and south of Pittsburgh.

Two volunteers sit together at a folding table covered with eyeglass frames.

In addition to our normal missions, we have high-volume screening clinics about once a year. At these events, we see 50-80 patients to check their vision, pupils, pressure, and fundus photos, and send patients for follow-up when needed. These missions are generally for special events (eg. Steubenville, OH VA Veterans’ Health Fair; Mexican Consulate Visit; and an Organization of Chinese Americans event).

A large group of students, doctors, and other volunteers pose together in a large conference hall under the sign reading "Eye Exams". Almost everyone is wearing a red t-shirt with a heart on it.