St. Louis Medical Technician from Brinton Vision Among Small Team to Bring Eyecare to Haiti

St. Louis, Missouri -

More than1,500 Haitians in the month of January, 2020, received eye-saving optometric care and surgery thanks to a small volunteer team from Missouri. Meagan Anderson, a medical technician at St. Louis LASIK center Brinton Vision, was among the five optometry students from the University of Missouri-St. Louis who joined mission leader Dr. Diane Wilson of the Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity (VOSH), two other optometrists and two lay people on the clinic mission.

“During our five clinic days, we saw 1,512 patients. Every patient received a complete eye examination and glasses if they needed them. Glasses included sunglasses, distance glasses and reading glasses,” said Anderson, from Brinton Vision. “Over 200 patients were referred for cataract, glaucoma and pterygium surgeries, which will also be donated.”

The eye glasses provided to Haitian patients were donated by VOSH and other charitable organizations. Brinton Vision provides VOSH with hundreds of eyeglasses that are generously donated by patients who no longer need them, thanks to LASIK and vision correction surgery.The St. Louis South Side Lions Club also graciously supported the travel expenses for the students.

With a per-capita income of approximately $250 per year, Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. Recent catastrophes such as the earthquake of 2010 and hurricanes in 2010 and 2016 have plunged the nation’s poor into even greater despair. Dr. Wilson and others make trips to Haiti twice a year to offer optometric exams and care.

“Just before we came to Haiti in January, there were many political riots and protests going on, so much so that a level-three travel advisory was placed on Haiti by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the November 2019 trip was cancelled. Thankfully, by January things had calmed down, because the people of Haiti needed our help more than ever. During recent political unrest, the country was basically on lock-down, so kids were not attending school, people were not working or making money, and it was uncertain where the next meal would come from,” Anderson explained.

“Knowing all of this, it was insane to me how nice and gracious everyone was to us. It also makes you realize how much we truly take for granted daily in the U.S. It's things like hot and clean water, electricity, a bed, snacks and safety that we don't think about. There, none of those things are guaranteed.”

In the tradition of past Haiti clinics, Anderson said the volunteers left most of what they brought with them as gifts to the people of Haiti who are most in need: clothing, luggage and a variety of personal items. “Thanks to my Brinton Vision coworkers, I was able to leave two full suitcases and a number of scrubs in Haiti. We were told that our January team donated the most items they have ever received.”