Third World Whirlwind

Third World Whirlwind

Northeastern State Optometric Team Gives Back with Mission Trip

Laura Butler, NSU Staff Writer

Honduras might seem a world away for some, but for Dr. Alissa Proctor, Northeastern State University associate professor in the College of Optometry, the third world country is just a summer memory away.

This August, Proctor of Tahlequah, OK, optometry colleague Dr. Ashley Brooks of Bentonville, AR, and a several students from the NSU College of Optometry participated in a mission trip to provide vision care to the residents of Roatan, Honduras. The team of two doctors and nine optometry students was able to help about 460 people during the four-day trip.

Students who participated with the mission trip included Candace Acord of Chandler, OK, Lori Barton of Newton, KS, Jamie Dunn of Roswell, NM, Ryan Emrick of Oklahoma City, OK, Sarah Gallagher of Jenks, OK, Phillip Tabor of Ardmore, OK, Summer Hilton of Camdenton, MO, Lindsey Chomiuk of Bentonville, AR, and Preston Smith of Baxter Springs, KS.

The leading cause of preventable blindness in third world countries is lack of glasses, said Proctor. Our trip was especially important during this time in history for Honduras. With the political coup, tourism is down and much foreign aid has been limited. The island is so beautiful, yet the people have such need.

The team got on a bus each day at 8:00 am and drove a windy, hilly road to get to the vision clinic, which was set up in an Outreach Ministries church. Proctor said that at least 50 people would already be waiting when the team arrived each day.

We would set up and start seeing patients as soon as possible, Proctor said. Our breaks were staggered so we could continue to see patients. Our clinic was advertised to end at 4:00 pm but most of the days we didn't finish our patients and get packed up until 5:00 pm or later.

The patients were sent through different stations at the clinic, including ocular and health history, visual acuities and retinoscopy, which is a time-saving method of determining an estimated prescription for a patient by using a machine. Overall, 2,000 pairs of glasses were distributed and some pairs will be mailed back. Thirty-three patients were found to have cataracts and referred for surgery.

Proctor said that there were many memorable moments on the trip. She related the story of a seven-year-old boy who came to the clinic. He had never worn glasses and they realized fairly quickly that he had a great amount of astigmatism.

We worked really hard and found a prescription where he could see 20/20, Proctor said. He was smiling at the end! We didn't have that prescription with us, but we are going to send them back to Roatan so he can see.

Proctor considers the trip a success and a great learning experience for the students.

Our students worked really well as a team, she said. It was a great experience for them and Im glad I could take part. I enjoyed watching them step out of their comfort zone and shine during this life-changing experience.

Proctor said that she hopes they can do another mission trip in the future. She wants to hold fundraisers and set some foundation for an effort called Students Volunteering Optometric Services to Humankind.

I have always had a passion for helping people, she said. I always talk to students about how they can give back.

Proctor has been on mission trips before, to Nigeria as a student and Brazil as a resident at NSU, but this trip was a first for everyone else on the team.

Our team was excited to partner with the optometry school and NSU to go out into the world and bring vision care to those who had none, Proctor said. We cant do this without the support of the optometry school and NSU. We are very grateful for everyone who helped.

9/25/2009

Published: 2009-09-25 00:00:00