SDCOS doctor brings eye care to Ecuador

As he has done for the past 10 years, Dr. Bob Meisel, SDCOS Public Awareness chairman, recently participated in a vision mission to serve those in need in various corners of the world. The clinic sites were at two schools in Quito, Ecuador. Settled in a valley in the Andes Mountains, Quito's altitude is 9,350 feet, technically making it the highest capital city in the world. Its location is only 16 miles from the equator and has an active volcano looming very near the city border.
 
A team of three ODs and four Lions Club members from several states screened and/or examined nearly 1,800 persons, including 1,700 children from grades 1-12, as well as nearly 100 parents and various residents from the surrounding communities. Most of the people treated during the four days of clinic could never afford any eye care on their own.
 
More than 1,000 pairs of glasses were taken to Quito by the team, with more than 450 pairs dispensed. Many other prescriptions for anisometropia and high astigmatism will be funded and fabricated by the Quito Lions Club, who served as hosts. The primary purpose of the clinic was to detect and treat vision problems with the students, but a few inflammations and infections were also treated.
 
An interesting case seen by the team was a young male in his mid-20s, who was referred to the clinic to determine the cause of his severe vision condition. After traveling more than 10 hours by bus through the Andes Mountains with his father and brother, it was determined from his history and clinical findings that he suffered from Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). This examination was his first even though he was virtually blind, as were two of his younger brothers. The family was disappointed, but left knowing that it was not preventable or treatable.
 
An added bonus to the trip was a visit to the U.S. Embassy in Quito and breakfast at the residence of the ambassador to Ecuador, the Honorable Adam Namm. One of the team members is related to the ambassador and arranged for the personal tours.
 

Ambassador Namm and Dr. Meisel.

Retinoscopy on a fifth-grade student.

  Quito Lions Club with the vision team.

 
 Eager fourth-grade students.

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