2007 Vision Work Week



A New View of the World

Rio Rico Rotary Club member Jan Collins spent Jan. 6-14 working with a group of 25 Rotarians from Connecticut, Utah, Oregon, and Washington -- providing prescription glasses to nearly1,550 people in Mexico. The group, led by Doctor Kurt Wilkening from Bear Creek Valley Rotary Club in Medford, OR, dispensed glasses to residents in the states of Colima, Jalisco, and Michoacan. Local Rotarians from the Colima, Villa de Alvarez, Coquimatlan and Coalcoman Rotary Clubs pitched in, too.

"Each of the patients went through nine testing stations that included taking a patient history, measuring blood pressure and blood sugar, extensive eye exams that determined the prescription that would be needed, and each was checked for eye diseases. Every person found to have diabetes, cataracts, or high blood pressure received counseling from a health worker.

Those with eye problems that could not be handled at the vision clinic were referred to a local doctor for follow up. Most days started around 9:30 am with set-up and ended 10 hours later after helping as many as 300 patients.

Then there was the ride on the AmigoBus back to the day's starting point.

The volunteers that fitted patients with glasses were rewarded with smiles, laughter, and prayers of thanks. One grandfather shouted with joy when he was fitted with his glasses. He told the person fitting him that until this minute he had not been able see well enough to read for more than 40 years and that he could not wait to get home and take a close look at his grandchildren.

One eight-year-old boy's eyes were so "crossed" that is was difficult to look him in the face without wincing. He was fitted with very strong glasses that corrected the focus problem and his eyes literally popped into the correct alignment. We were all amazed and his father hugged everyone who helped his son. The boy cried when he saw himself in a mirror and said that now the kids in school would finally stop laughing at him.

One little girl was found to have a growth in her eye, possibly a tumor. She and her father were told of the problem, both cried along with the doctor. The girl was referred to a local doctor who did more extensive tests the next day and determined that the growth may impede vision in the future and it would have to be removed, but that it was not cancerous. We were all delighted when we heard the results.

This is the eighth year for the Project Amigo Vision Clinic. Project Amigo directors Ted Rose and Susan Hill say that the 2007 vision clinic was the best yet."

-- Jan Collins Rio Rico Rotary District 5500