Spring 2006
OUTREACH IN GUATEMALA By Dr. Kara Peterson
Last November, I traveled to Guatemala with an eye care team from VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity). The trip was organized by a Guatemalan ophthalmologist who has set up clinics in rural towns. Currently, there are no optometrists from the capital city that travel to these areas to provide basic eye care and prescribe glasses.
Our team was made up of four optometrists and a handful of volunteers to dispense glasses and to do other tasks such as gathering the health history and performing acuity testing. We were based in Jalpatagua in the province of Jutiapa. Each day we were driven to a different surrounding town and set up a clinic for the local people.
Last November, I traveled to Guatemala with an eye care team from VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity). The trip was organized by a Guatemalan ophthalmologist who has set up clinics in rural towns. Currently, there are no optometrists from the capital city that travel to these areas to provide basic eye care and prescribe glasses.
Our team was made up of four optometrists and a handful of volunteers to dispense glasses and to do other tasks such as gathering the health history and performing acuity testing. We were based in Jalpatagua in the province of Jutiapa. Each day we were driven to a different surrounding town and set up a clinic for the local people.
Outreach In Guatemala
While we did see a lot of disease and treated many conditions, the majority of the time we were prescribing reading glasses to those who had developed presbyopia (difficulty seeing up close). Even this simple act made a great difference in their life. By providing eyeglasses we allowed people to resume reading, sewing and other essential daily tasks. We also provided sunglasses to individuals who had eye conditions related to the sun and dust.
I look forward with pleasure to next November for a return trip to Guatemala. I am planning a presentation on our Guatemala work in late spring…details of location and date to follow.
Please remember to drop off any used prescription glasses to the office. Nonprescription sunglasses are also very much needed, especially for children. Over-the-counter reading glasses (i.e. from drug stores) are also greatly appreciated.
Just as you can have freckles on your skin, freckles can also occur in your eyes. A freckle is simply an area where there is increased pigment. In the eye, freckles commonly occur in the iris (coloured part of the eye), the conjunctiva (over the white of the eye) as well as the choroid (inside and at the back of the eye). A choroidal freckle, known as a CHOROIDAL NEVUS, appears to the optometrist as a gray/brown area when examining the back of the eye. Nevi are quite common and are estimated to occur in 5 to 8% of individuals. Just like
Drs. Bauman and Peterson were pleased to be able to host an optometry intern at the office during the months of January and February. Sharon is in her final year of her Doctor of Optometry program at the University of Waterloo. During her time at the office, Sharon participated in eye examinations and patient care under the supervision of Drs. Bauman and Peterson. Having Sharon in the office was a positive experience for all and we wish Sharon well in her future career as an Optometrist!
Swapping tinted or costume contact lenses with friends is a dangerous practice as the risk of spreading eye disease is very high. Bacterial infections of the cornea (the part of the eye the contact lens rests on) can lead to permanent eye damage or even blindness. Poor contact lens care is believed to be the leading cause of bacterial eye infections. Appropriate lens care and regular check-ups with your optometrist are the best way to ensure continued eye health with contact lens use. This is equally important for cosmetic and prescription contact lenses. Remember to wash your hands before you handle your lenses, keep the lenses clean, store them properly, and never, ever share them.
