Maria Zepeda, 26, of Indio came to the free vision clinic on Saturday at Martha's Village and Kitchen to get reading glasses.

She left the clinic with a smile and upgraded glasses that will also help her drive at night.

More than 315 people came to the clinic Saturday as volunteers from Martha's Village and Kitchen, Lions Clubs International District 405 and College of the Desert provided free eye exams and eyeglasses.

“People fall between the cracks and lose their jobs or insurance,” said Brian Van Dusen, a licensed optometrist for Friends Across the Border, an endorsed project of the Lions Clubs International District 405. “We are trying to help people make ends meet.”

The majority of the clinic's attendees are the working poor or homeless of the surrounding Indio area, said Michael Kim, the associate director of health and clinical services for Martha's Village and Kitchen.

Doors opened for the clinic at 8 a.m., Kim said. Van Dusen said attendees checked in at the front of the clinic. Then, they had free exams to diagnose their vision needs.

Jose Marquez, 51, of Salton City said he found out about the clinic from a handout his daughter received at school.

The welder said it was the first time in four years he had his eyes checked.

Van Dusen said volunteers diagnosed one client with diabetes through a vision exam and found several people who had glaucoma.

After the exam, the clients moved to the other side of the building to receive free eyeglasses. About 16,000 pairs of eyeglasses were available from donation bins stationed in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

The vision clinic takes place four times a year, Kim said. The next clinic will be Dec. 27.