LRMC offers retirees, diabetics eye exams

In honor of “Save Your Vision Month,” the optometry clinic at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is dedicating March 22 to retirees and diabetic patients who have not had an eye exam in the past year.

The clinic is reserving 48 appointments for retirees and diabetic patients to come in and have their eyes checked on a first-come, first-served basis. Appointment can be made by calling 486-LRMC (5762) or 06371-86-5762. Patients are asked to bring an escort because exams involve dilation of the eyes. Routine eye exams are especially important for retirees and diabetics.

“The risk factor for ocular complications increases with certain medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, thus there is urgency for this group to have a routine eye exam,” said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Donovan G. Green, chief of the LRMC optometry clinic and optometry consultant for Europe Regional Medical Command. Ocular complications include glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration. Colonel Green said a better prognosis is possible with earlier detection.

Although March is set aside to highlight taking care of our eyes, Colonel Green said it is important that everyone understand the importance of routine eye exams for detecting potentially serious unsuspected problems — and not necessarily related only to our eyes.

“Many people believe that because they see well, they do not need eye care,” he said. “This is simply not true. Several common eye diseases, such as glaucoma, can damage vision with very few, or no symptoms, until the condition is very advanced. Regular eye examinations can help detect systemic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. The eye is the only place in the body where we can view the blood vessels directly and evaluate their health without invasive procedures.”

(Courtesy of LRMC Public Affairs)