Photo By Senior Airman Victoria Edwards | U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Erin Bell, AMISTAD optometry technician uses a handheld...... read more read more
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IQUITOS, Peru – Clearer vision and renewed opportunity came into focus for hundreds of residents in Iquitos as U.S. Air Force medical teams launched the first iteration of AMISTAD 2025, a humanitarian health engagement that kicked off June 2, 2025. The mission brings critical vision care to a community where access to specialized eye services is limited, while enhancing clinical readiness for U.S. military personnel.
At the center of the Peru mission is access to vision care—a service that remains limited for many in the region.
“This is an opportunity to make an immediate impact,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Tina Burr, AMISTAD Mission Commander and Lead Optometrist. “For someone who has lived with blurry vision or headaches for years, something as simple as a pair of glasses can be life-changing.”
Operating from Hospital Regional de Loreto, the optometry team provided comprehensive eye exams and eyeglasses to community members at no cost. More than 3,000 pairs of eyeglasses were shipped to Peru in support of the effort.
“For many, this is their first eye exam ever,” said Maj. Jenny Sung, AMISTAD Optometrist. “We’ve seen kids who couldn’t see the board at school and older adults who couldn’t read anymore. Seeing their reactions when they try on glasses for the first time, that never gets old.”
Patients arrived early and in large numbers, with some traveling several hours to receive care. The clinic was designed to allow most individuals to receive an exam, prescription and fitted glasses in a single visit.
The Iquitos engagement marked the beginning of a two-week optometry mission in Peru. The team also operated from a Peruvian Air Force base and returned to Hospital Regional de Loreto to meet continued demand for services.
“We came here to help, plain and simple,” Sung said. “Every pair of glasses we hand out helps someone work, study, or just see their world a little more clearly, that’s why we’re here.”
The AMISTAD optometry team includes active duty and reserve U.S. Air Force personnel, including optometrists, technicians and support staff. Their work supports both host nation health goals and the clinical readiness of U.S. medical forces.
The results of the AMISTAD 2025 mission in Iquitos were visible in the smiles of patients leaving the clinic—many wearing prescription glasses for the first time in their lives.
With additional patients expected and supplies remaining, the team continues its focus: restoring vision, one patient at a time.
AMISTAD 2025 is a 10-week U.S. Southern Command-led mission that will also conduct clinical care engagements in El Salvador, Suriname, Paraguay and Panama.
For updates on AMISTAD 2025 and future mission stops across Latin America, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/AMISTAD25.
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.11.2025 18:13 |
| Story ID: | 500262 |
| Location: | IQUITOS, PE |
| Web Views: | 47 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, AMISTAD 2025 brings eye care to Peru, by SrA Victoria Edwards, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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