7 News Belize

Optometry Students Assist
posted (May 8, 2012)
A group of optometry students are in Belize - conducting free eye examinations for children as well as adults. The free eye screenings are being done at the Lion's Clinic for the next 2 days. The group consists of 15 volunteers - who belong to the optometric service to humanity at the Southern College of Optometry. 7news stopped in today at the Clinic and found out more.

Brett Miller, Student Volunteer
"Basically today and also on Wednesday and Thursday we are going to be doing eye exams. We are Optometry students in Memphis Tennessee in the United States and we are going to check the health of our patient's eyes here and we are also looking to see if there is any prescription if we can help their vision with glasses today."

"Today we are going to see about 350-400 patients. The people have really been coming in and we are glad to see everybody, there are lots of young students that we are screening. We are doing everything we can to help them."

"Everything is going great so far. Lots of the kids are doing well, they don't need glasses. There are some kids who have been uncorrected and we've got glasses to help them out especially for them being able to see the board in school."

"We have also screen a bunch of adults - some of them have conditions that we referred them to the local Ophthalmologist here to help them with as far as diabetes and different conditions like that."

"We are also giving away sunglasses. Lots of individuals have had conditions that are caused by extra UV exposer - we have sunglasses that we can give out that will help."

Monica Bodden
"The group consists of how many?"

Brett Miller, Student Volunteer
"Today we are going to have 13 students here and two staff doctors, so 15 of us total."

The team of volunteers leaves the country on Thursday.

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