In 2007, The Eye Health Institute went to 4 different locations.  A School, a Church, a remote clinic and the Grange Clinic.  In a 2 week period of time, our volunteers saw over 460 patients.

The Eye Health Institute would like to thank Dr. John Kloor, Nurse Diane Nelson, and Nurse Sheffer 

for their generosity in donating their time to perform surgical procedures for patients in Jamaica.

Dr. Kloor and staff from Cornwall Regional Hospital in surgery

The Eye Health Institute returned from Jamaica on April 22, 2006.  Dr. John Kloor, an ophthalmologist from Kaiser-Permanente in Boulder, volunteered to perform cataract extractions on patients identified during earlier missions.  Diane Nelson and Kathleen Sheffer, ophthalmic surgery nurses from Denver, assisted him.  The Jamaican Ministry of Health arranged for the procedures to be performed at Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.  It was a wonderful opportunity for the eye team to perform over a dozen cases, which included cataract surgery, pterygium removal, and a glaucoma procedure.  It was a pleasure for the surgical team and support staff to witness the gratitude of patients that could once again see after years of living essentially sightless.

Nurse Nelson with a cataract patient after surgery

In the small rural town of Grange, 85 patients were re-evaluated for surgery and the most needy were selected for cataract surgery. About 17 additional patients were seen as a courtesy for allowing the Eye Health Institute to use the small clinic in that area.  The Ministry of Health agreed to let EHI use a room there as a clinic base in the future. 

Dr. Kloor and Nurse Sheffer with a patient

Geri Moore, Paul Hester, and Dr. Richard Cross assisted the team and dispensed eyeglasses to patients that were seen from the previous eye care mission. During the week, the surgical team operated on the selected patients in Montego Bay.  Those candidates made arrangements to carpool with the son of one of the patients.  Excess surgical packs and medications were donated to the Cornwall Regional Hospital.  Their ophthalmology department will use those supplies. 

Dr. Kloor and patient.

Jamaica 2006

Through the generosity of Clad Metal – Dynamic Materials in Boulder, the Eye Health Institute was able to ship a complete lane of equipment to the Grange-Kendall facility for use during the November Vision Clinic and future eye care missions.

Eye care volunteers returned to Jamaica in November.  The team included Christine Berg, Ann Collins, Brian Grimes, Mary Hester, Paul Hester, Lisa Kaczorowski, Kayla Luther, and Dr. Richard Cross.  The lane of equipment was installed at the Hanover Clinic.  Approximately 130 patients were seen over two and one half days.  Ninety eyeglasses were dispensed to patients, and only eight pairs of glasses were to be ordered.  Seven patients were referred to local physicians.  One patient was referred to the National Health Service for treatment of uncontrolled diabetes.   

With the commitment of a handful of people and several corporate sponsors throughout the year, the quality of life for many Jamaicans was improved by restoring the gift of sight.  Cataract surgeries, eye examinations, and eyeglasses allowed patients to see their world more clearly.  In 2007, the Eye Health Institute plans to build on the accomplishments of the previous year, and to help over 500 patients by providing free eye care to the parishes of Hanover and Westmoreland.  In order to reach this goal, we must install another lane of equipment at the Grange-Kendall facility, and purchase a visual field unit for tracking glaucoma.  

Jamaica 2004

The Eye Health Institute would like to thank everyone who supported the 2004 eye care mission to Jamaica.  The volunteers recently returned from the island after examining people in Little London, Negril, and Lucea.  Money raised by the Reggae on the Creek Concert and by a generous donation from the employees of Intrado allowed for approximately 500 patients to be seen during the week of Thanksgiving.  The volunteers pictured here at Lost Beach were Dr. Joseph Myers (front), Lisa McAlister, Richard Cross, Fay Cross, Ann Collins (seated), Paul Hester, Coleen Vandendriessche, Sheri Bernal, Carl Gentzel, Grace Cox, Mark Maracle, and Dr. Richard Cross (standing).  Not pictured are Mary Hester and Dr. Jason Kaminski.

Dr. Richard Cross examining a patient in Negril. 

Carl Gentzel, Richard Cross, Paul Hester, and Joe Myers (Clockwise from bottom left)

Dr. Jason Kaminski 

Lisa McAlister guides a student through the eye chart   

EHI hopes to obtain funding to buy an RV that will remain in Jamaica and be used as a mobile eye clinic, able to travel with all necessary equipment to rural areas.