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    Windows in a windowless room

    Windows in a windowless room

    Photo By Sgt. Rachel Grothe | U.S. Air Force Maj. Terry Walker, optometrist, 179th Medical Group, Ohio Air National...... read more read more

    KEA'AU, HI, UNITED STATES

    06.09.2016

    Story by Sgt. Rachel Grothe 

    305th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

    KEA’AU, Hawaii-- “What could be better than helping underserved Americans?” U.S. Army Maj. Dennis Curtis, optometrist, 165th Medical Detachment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina asks between patients at Hawaiian Ocean View community center, on the rocky southern slopes of Hawaii island. “Nothing,” he firmly answers himself.

    Tropic Care 2016 patients appreciate the services provided. Hundreds of patients flow through the optometry section each day during the two-weeks of health care clinics around Hawaii Island. Only the dental section rivals the optometry patient volume.

    “A lot of people wouldn’t get the healthcare if it wasn’t free,” said Alan Alexander, Kea’au, Hawaii resident, waiting for his sons to finish school activities physicals at the Kea’au High School Tropic Care clinic. “Optometry and dental are not covered by Obamacare. Most health care is out of reach for a lot of people here, either it’s too expensive, out of the way, or the clinics aren’t accepting new patients.”

    The optometrists aren’t short sighted about the local eye health challenges.

    “We know distance is challenging no matter what demographic you fit into, taking the time out, driving to an appointment far away is a big obstacle,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Terry Walker, 179th Medical Group, Ohio Air National Guard, Mansfield, Ohio. “It’s only one obstacle we face. We teach people to understand vision as a long distance thing. Vision affects how well you can learn, which affects the jobs you can do, and your overall quality of life. For instance, kids should come in for a real vision test, with an eye doctor, before first grade. There are some small things in the eye we can see and treat at that age, before it develops into something more serious like lazy eye.”

    Optometrists take eye health more seriously than anyone, but there is room for workday humor.

    “It’s kind of a joke in the office. I love being outdoors, tending to the details of my yard. So, what do I do? I choose a job with no lights, and windows, just sitting in a dark room,” laughs Walker. “I guess I tend to the tiny details of the eyes.”

    The doctors spend the workday in windowless rooms, but eyes are known as the windows to the soul. The sun-drenched view these patients’ windows overlook is different than those the doctors see at their U.S. mainland practices.

    “You can tell when someone lives in a tropical sunny area, because over the years high amounts of U.V. exposure irreversibly damages tissue. We think of skin, but also, your eyes. Your iris is like a magnifying glass directing light to your retina. It’s especially important here to wear sunglasses,” said Walker.

    The people behind the eyes, taking advantage of the Tropic Care clinics, are not short sighted about visions’ importance.

    “I normally work with 20 year old, healthy, active duty kids, in a hospital. They take their health for granted. Working with these people is more challenging, but much more rewarding,” said Curtis, a 28-year active duty optometrist. “It’s rewarding because these are the people who need it most. The people here are underserved, mostly elderly, and they really do seem appreciative.”

    Walker, a civilian optometrist of 16 years knows perspective changes with age. Nine years into his civilian career, he moved with his young family from Hilliard, Ohio to Mansfield, Ohio, leaving his job and 90-minute commute behind.

    “When you’re young, and don’t have kids, you’re just happy to have a job. It doesn’t matter that you’re not getting home until after 6. When we had our first child, my wife and I, she’s an optometrist too, knew we needed better work-family balance,” he said.

    The job change gave him family time, and more.

    “The 179th Medical Group Air National Guard’s senior flight surgeon works at the community hospital with me. He told me about the optometry position. He thought I would be a good fit,” he said.

    “I’d been practicing for ten years, just as a civilian, and decided I wanted to contribute to a bigger cause,” he said.

    He maintains the balance five years into his Air Guard career, and even added a daughter. “My family supports me. I’ll continue as long as it balances out.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.09.2016
    Date Posted: 06.10.2016 21:34
    Story ID: 200726
    Location: KEA'AU, HI, US
    Hometown: FORT LIBERTY, NC, US
    Hometown: MANSFIELD, OH, US

    Web Views: 118
    Downloads: 2

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