what eye screening day looks like

Field screenings happen about 1-2 times each week for eye team. This is not a direct part of my job since I am on ship getting people ready for surgery at the same time that the field team is doing these screenings, but I have been able to go a few times on non-surgery days. The photos included here were taken last week.

 

The day begins well before dawn, and a line begins to form before Mercy Ships land rovers have left the ship. A security team made up of volunteers from other ship departments leaves at 5:30 to organize the line and help with the flow of people.

 

A few people at a time are allowed through the gate where they are "pre-screened" by trained eye team members with a pen light. If it looks like thier eyes might fit the criteria for surgery with us we send them on to the specialist to look at them with the portable slit lamp. Each time I have gone to a field screening I have worked as one of these "pre-screeners". Each pre-screener works with one day worker who translates and uses a counter to keep track of how many people they have looked at.

We see so many eyes on screening day- eyes that are really ok, but some glasses would be good, eyes that we know we can't help, and others that could be surgical candidates. That's what screening day is about- finding the ones we came to help, ones that we can say yes to.

A big thank you to everyone who helps with this screening day!