I was honored for the opportunity to travel to Cusco, Peru with former classmates Dr. William Olivos and Dr. Tracy Matchinski, Dr. Robert Vickers MD, a team of optometry students and volunteers, along with family and friends to provide eye care for the citizens in Cusco Peru. The Mission took place November 4th through the 6th and was organized by the Rotary Club in Cusco and Port St. Lucie Florida.
Vision Clinic In Peru
We held Vision Clinics for 3 days in the city of Cusco. The line each day was around the block. Many waiting 2 days to be seen, some older than 90, having to endure rain and hail while outside. In all of the communities of Cusco, we saw a mixture of patients with a majority being elderly Peruvians, children who were students, and women. We provided primary eye care, prescriptions, eye drops, sunglasses and glasses to over 1100 patients in the 3 days along with eyelid and cataract surgeries. We were able to help a lot of people.
It was amazing to me the depths of how much we take for granted, especially our vision. One 89-year-old patient was brought in by her niece, 74, who could barely walk and kept complaining about her left eye. She thought it was a cataract but turned out to be an optic neuropathy (Stoke in the eye) from uncontrolled blood pressure. The other eye wasn’t much better.
The appreciation the Peruvians had for our services was so immense and so heartwarming, even when NOTHING could be done. It left me speechless. Trips like these, show you how much of a difference you can make in people’s lives. Nothing makes someone feel better than to know that they’ve made a difference.
I have received my reward by giving and I will absolutely do it again.
I am just one, striving every day to make a positive difference in the world, my community, and for my family.
I accomplished all by taking a trip to Peru.
I am blessed to have been given the gifts and the resources to serve.
Making The Mission Possible
Spearheading this mission was Dr. William Olivos who travels back to Peru every year to help deliver eyecare to his countrymen that are in dire need of services. For each trip he organizes the donations of sunglasses and ophthalmic frames while also working directly with local Peruvian ophthalmic labs who donate lenses to be made for the donated frames, filling the much-needed prescriptions for our Peruvian patients.
Dr. Tracy Matchinski, President of VOSH International, coordinated extra funding and resources from VOSH to help bring needed diagnostic equipment, diagnostic and therapeutic drops. Also along for the journey was surgeon Dr. Robert Vickers MD, who joined to do eyelid repairs* and Pterygium removals**.
I represented the Grosse Pointe Lions Club bringing with me ready-made reading glasses and Sunglasses. Along with each doctor, I brought my own personal diagnostic equipment and more diagnostic and therapeutic drops. This was a completely self-funded mission, provided by the doctors, volunteers, and vendors we do business with. And for that, I would like to send them my sincerest thanks for helping make this mission a reality. I would also like to thank Maui Jim and Ray Ban helping us get the frames for our trip.
Addendum: As noted, Dr. Olivos, Dr. Matchinski and I graduated together and were able to celebrate a mini 25-year reunion on this mission. I am so fortunate for their friendship and collegiality.
*Ectropion (eyelids turned out), Entropion (eyelids turned in), Blepharoplasty (eyelids drooping down and obstructing vision).
**Pterygium (sun damage caused at the high elevations).