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Bascom Palmer launches eye care mission in Japan
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MIAMI — Bascom Palmer Eye Institute has partnered with Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo to aid Japan in relief efforts for the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami, according to a press release from the institute.
The Bascom Palmer Vision Van left on a cargo flight for Sendai, Japan, on Tuesday, making it the group's first international rescue mission. The 40-foot bus offers a "comprehensive examination room, three screening stations, a waiting room and state-of-the-art ophthalmic equipment," the release said.
During the 3-month operation, ophthalmologists from Keio University and trained volunteers will offer emergency vision screenings and treatment for eye injuries, infections and inflammations that were sustained during or after the earthquake.
People can also receive eyeglasses to replace ones that were lost or broken during the disaster. According to the release, more than 1,000 ready-made lenses were donated by Eye Care Centers of America to treat a broad range of prescriptions.
"I hope that ... we help to improve the medical conditions in Japan and help facilitate a rapid recovery," Eduardo Alfonso, MD, chairman of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, said in the release. "Knowing the success we had with the Vision Van in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, I believe the Bascom Palmer Vision Van will prove to be an invaluable resource for [the Keio University] team."
Kazuo Tsubota, MD, chief of the department of ophthalmology at Keio University, is leading the team, and Richard Lee, MD, PhD, associate professor of ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, will provide training based on his experiences with Haiti relief efforts.