With our nation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, National Doctors’ Day is certainly an appropriate time to share how thankful we are for the healthcare professionals on the frontline, putting themselves in harm’s way to save the lives of countless Americans.
Even though eye health isn’t at the forefront of the country’s mind right now, we want to be sure to thank the thousands of eyecare providers that are treating emergency patients, including other medical professionals in need. This is truly a team effort and we will get through this together.
Below are a few stories from eye doctors around the United States that help illustrate just how important the vision community is in times of need.
A pediatric surgeon in Cincinnati broke the arm of their glasses while treating patients. They needed frames quickly to be available and fully ready to assist medical efforts during the outbreak. Their eye doctor answered the emergency call, opened the store just for them and found appropriate replacement frames.
In Anchorage, Alaska, a local ECP served several first responders over the weekend of March 20-22, including a retired police officer who was called back to duty for emergency response but didn’t have an updated prescription.
An eye doctor in Rockville, MD received a call from a contact lens patient, concerned because they were down to their last pair of contacts with no suitable replacement glasses available. Knowing that this aging patient may soon be home for an extended period without being able to safely see, the optometrist found a way to stay open long enough to get the patient a new prescription.
These, and stories like them, are examples of why eye doctors are a crucial part of the healthcare community.