Optometry school provides free exams

Fourth-year optometry student Natalie Corey’s first patient of the day couldn’t hear a word she said.

The patient was deaf, and all of the volunteers who had signed up to translate sign language were busy with other patients.
But Corey didn’t panic.

She’d taken sign language classes as an undergraduate, and although it was hard to instantly recall the signs, Corey was able to communicate with the patient and the eye exam went smoothly.

The deaf patient was one of more than 60 people expected at the Community Eye Care Center for a free full eye exam. The free eye exams began as a new service project by the School of Optometry in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“Our first idea was a vision screening, but that’s not as beneficial since they can’t get glasses,” Julie Chung, a third-year optometry student, said.

Together, Chung and fellow third-year Michelle DePeau worked with the Salvation Army and other organizations to plan the free eye exams. If patients needed glasses, the organizations provided donated frames and lenses free of charge. The frames will be adjusted for each individual when the patient picks them up from the clinic.

“We see patients who don’t have routine health care,” Corey said, “It’s a first look at a patient’s health status.”

High blood pressure, diabetes and other health problems can be identified in an eye exam.

For those in need of further health care for their eyes or otherwise, Volunteers in Medicine Representative Jo Hargesheimer was available to enroll people and answer questions about the local VIM  clinic for people without health insurance in Monroe and Owen counties.

“We’re making people aware that there are services available and how important eye care is,” said DePeau, president of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity. Vision care is important for a lot of low-income people because if they can’t see, they can’t drive or work, added Monica Clemons, social services administrative assistant for Salvation Army of Monroe County.

The eye exams were held Monday as part of “A Day On, Not a Day Off.” The clinic was closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so students and volunteers didn’t have work or class conflicts. Exams were given by third-year optometry students while first- and second-year students observed and assisted.

To find volunteers, Chung and DePeau sent an e-mail to the School of Optometry and found the response overwhelming. More than 40 people volunteered and even more were turned down due to lack of space.

Chung and DePeau said they hope to continue the clinic next year and have younger VOSH members step up and help plan.

“MLK’s vision was one of equality of people, and even now there’s not a lot of economic equality,” Corey said, “so it’s a way to give back to the community.”