Photo By Mary-Dale Amison | Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Martinez, an ophthalmic specialist with Naval Ophthalmic...... read more read more
The Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity (NOSTRA) is the premiere manufacturing facility for the Optical Fabrication Enterprise, and the mobile eye-wear facility that makes lenses for individuals in need of eye-wear. This team averages 150 pair of glasses on any given day.
“We usually don’t get to speak directly with patients, but when we hear the success stories of people who have better vision because of the glasses we’ve made…it’s feels good and makes our time away from home worthwhile.” said Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Martinez, NOSTRA.
They offer six different styles of frames for individuals to choose from. If the person only requires nonprescription reading glasses, they have those on hand as well. Those are pre-assembled and come in varying degrees of strengths.
This elite group is part of the integral medical personnel who are here getting valuable training during the Operation Healthy Delta 2017 Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) mission. The services being provided in Caruthersville and Charleston are no cost to residents in the local communities, which includes the eye-wear from this team.
The team is comprised of two technicians who run the Horizon II, Ophthalmic Lens Edging Machine, which cuts the lenses to fit the prescription that the Optometrist or Ophthalmologist has prescribed.
The machine can take 45 seconds to 1 ½ minutes to cut the lenses, which is based on the prescription and the thickness of the lenses being prepared. Pfc. Jacob Lillison keep the machines busy
manufacturing the lenses. But first there are steps that need to be done prior to the final product.
Martinez is the first step in the process. He quality checks the prescriptions to see if his team can make the glasses. There is a set of guidelines he follows; looks at the prescription, checks to see if
they have the lenses within the power range to make the glasses. Once he completes his checks, the order is handed off to Petty Officer 2nd Class Broc Phillips and Spc. Hayley Serrano.
They have a full stock of semi-finished lenses on hand and when a prescription is ordered, Phillips and Serrano will go through the huge variety of raw prescription lenses to get the power that is needed.
Spc. Kyrsten Ferguson reviews the prescription before the next step is done.
“Our eyes are so important." said Ferguson, McDonald Army Health Center. "It’s a good feeling knowing we are able to provide for those who may not have had an eye exam or a proper pair of glasses for quite some time.”
Ferguson scopes and blocks the lenses. She ensures the lenses are suited for each prescription. The lens analyzer is used for scoping each lens. Scoping the lens is done by dialing in the prescription. Once this is done, the machine will place three dots onto the lens. This allows for the lens to work with the patient’s eye to guide it towards the center of the lens for better clarity.
Next, the lens will go to the blocker. The machine will apply a plastic block with an adhesive pad to hold the lens in place, but it easily comes off the lens without damaging it at the end of the process. Once this portion is completed, they are placed in another machine that will cut the lens into the correct shape and size for the frame for a specific frame..
This machine is worked by Lillison. The easiest way to explain this portion of the assembly is similar to wood shop where a lathe is used to turn a piece of wood into a spindle for a staircase. This machine mimics that process. The round lens is trimmed to fit into the frame, then a quality assurance check is done by Spc. Brioanna Cherry. The end product is a pair of glasses for a patient who may not have had the means to purchase a pair or see an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist.
“Each IRT Mission is unique, and face different challenges in their own way,” said Martinez. “It’s all about our patients. It’s up to us to work as a team to overcome any challenges and provide the best eye-wear and care possible for the people in the communities we serve.”
Some miles from NOSTRA’s temporary facility, Freddie Evans, 77, of Charleston, picked up his new pair of eyeglasses from Operation Healthy Delta IRT’s care facility at the Charleston United Methodist Church.
“I was expecting plain black frames and instead I had my choice of frames.” said Evans. “I feel great and can see great now. I can’t thank you enough!”
| Date Taken: | 09.20.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.21.2017 15:57 |
| Story ID: | 249134 |
| Location: | PORTAGEVILLE, MO, US |
| Web Views: | 119 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Operation Healthy Delta IRT provides no-cost eyeglasses courtesy of NOSTRA, by MSgt Paula Aragon, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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