This holiday season, a dozen doctors, technicians, nurses, and staff volunteered their time and skills to improve the sight of people in the community.
The 9th Gift of Sight Day was held on Friday, December 11th at the Roanoke Valley Center for Sight and Vistar Eye Center. The event provides free cataract or other eye disease screenings and surgeries to those living in Southwestern Virginia without insurance. Nine patients qualified for this year’s event – and now see better because of it.
Dr. Stuart Tims and Dr. Frank Cotter – ophthalmologists with Vistar Eye Center – performed this year’s life-changing procedures. The doctors as well as all the volunteers understand what the Gift of Sight Day means to patients who may not have otherwise had this chance. Many of the volunteer staff have been with the program since it began.
“It has been wonderful to be a part of the Gift of Sight Day for 9 years,” said Denise Goodrum, COT. “It is a blessing to work with these physicians who are extremely skilled and very caring with giving hearts.”
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens in the eye. Most cataracts are a result of the natural aging process where the tissue in the lens breaks down and clumps together. The cataract blurs the “picture” that the eye creates and makes it more difficult to focus, much like when oil and dirt is stuck to the lens of a camera.
“We’re very fortunate to have had Alcon come through yet again this year,” said Dr. Tims, cataract surgeon. “In addition to the corrective lenses that we use for treating cataracts, they’ve also donated some more innovative technology.”
Toric lens implants are an exciting technology for patients with moderate amounts of astigmatism – a condition that causes blurred vision because of a misshapen cornea. Whether the patient received a Toric or a regular lens, the improvement of their vision is phenomenal.
“Being able to give someone my time is a blessing,” said Becca Johnson, RN. “The reward is hearing a patient say ‘thank you’!”
This year also saw a donation of a Biotissue Amniograft for a condition known as a Pterygium. People with pterygium have a growth of pink, fleshy tissue on the white of the eye. The growth usually forms on the side closest to the nose and grows toward the center of the eye interfering with vision. The AmnioGraft, a biologic ocular transplantation graft, serves as a tissue replacement and accelerates patient recovery by reducing inflammation, promoting regenerative healing, suppressing pain, and achieving a superior cosmetic outcome.
The event gave both the qualified patients – and talented volunteers like Sharon Sheffield – a reason to smile. “I absolutely enjoy the day!” said Sharon Sheffield. “The appreciation from all the patients makes it a day of utter happiness.”
