From the REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
August 22, 2022
TORRINGTON — They come from far flung, war torn and developing countries, eager for a chance at freedom they haven’t known. For many, the first steps include the gift of sight.
Optometrist Dr. Michael Shea peered through a phoropter diagnostic machine as 10-year-old Santa Engracia held perfectly still on Monday at Blondin Shea Eye Care, her legs short of reaching the end of the exam chair. The Guatemalan born girl was hoping her first eye exam would produce a prescription for eyeglasses to be just like her big sister. It didn’t turn out that way, but the exam served as a baseline and evaluated for possible systemic illnesses that could harm eye health.
Others have received eyeglasses that have dazzled with a first clear view of the world or been referred to places like the Yale Eye Center for more definitive care. So far, about 40 documented and undocumented immigrants from Ukraine, Iran and Central American countries have found their way to the Blondin/Shea examination room over the past few weeks through the New Haven-based Iris (Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services) organization, which also assists with housing, employment and citizenship matters.
Language barriers are overcome by staff members who can get by with a variety of languages, including Russian. Often, an accompanying family member will serve as an interpreter. “It’s to provide for those in need,” said Dr. Matthew Blondin, president of VOSH-CT (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity). “We referred one patient with a retinal scar to Yale and we’re seeing a lot of pterygium — also known as surfer’s eye — which tends to affect people exposed to the most intense ultraviolet light near the equator.”
The care and eyeglasses are all provided free of charge to recipients who aren’t covered by private insurance and are ineligible for state Husky public health coverage. “It can happen that they believe blurry vision is normal,” Blondin said. “We can’t detect normal without diagnostic tools in the exam room. It’s so rewarding to see a child smile after being given the gift of sight and looking around to marvel at trees, the sky and people.”
Contact Brigitte Ruthman at bruthman@rep-am.com.