Medical students bring vision screenings to the public

SAN ANTONIO (July 24, 2013) — Eight medical students interested in ophthalmology from the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio performed free vision and glaucoma screenings recently. They used the District 2-A2 International Association of Lions Clubs Mobile Eye Screening Unit, parked at a grocery store near the intersection of Thousand Oaks and Perrin Beitel.

“The primary purpose of the clinic was to provide free vision and glaucoma screenings to the public and to educate people about the health and care of their eyes,” explained second-year medical student Gavin Best, who coordinated the student project. “During the process we identified at-risk people and directed them to see a physician.”

The seven second-year students and one fourth-year student performed the screenings, including pulse and blood pressure, visual acuity and glaucoma.

Chris Lloyd, manager of the Mobile Eye Screening Unit with the Lions Club, supervised the event. Faculty mentors were David Henzi, Ed.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology and assistant dean of academic enhancement in the School of Medicine, and Daniel Johnson, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology in the School of Medicine.

The students have screened 90 people in two clinics this summer.

“The medical student involvement with the Lions Screening Program is a real win-win for the community,” said Jim Wheeler, president and chief operating officer of the District 2-A2 Lions Sight Research Foundation.



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