Glaucoma Patients See New Hope
I couldn’t afford my drops [...]. I am thankful that the Free Clinic is able to help me with my drops. With one less worry, I can focus on trying to keep up with the rent and groceries.
Ward Peterson was diagnosed with glaucoma at the age of 25 and had been using medicated eye drops to treat his symptoms and prevent further degeneration of his vision. His father had slowly lost his sight to the disease and Peterson understood the need for continual treatment. Peterson became unemployed and although a friend was helping him get back on his feet, he could not afford the glaucoma treatment and his condition worsened.
He ran the risk of losing his vision entirely if his glaucoma continued to go untreated. In November of 2008, he was seen through the Free Clinic’s vision program by a volunteer optometrist and was then referred to the Free Clinic’s Project Access Clark County program where he had follow-up care and received help obtaining his glaucoma drops.
In the Spring of 2009, the Free Clinic identified the need for ongoing care for uninsured patients with glaucoma and developed a glaucoma treatment program. Due to the high cost of glaucoma medications and the need for quarterly visits with an ophthalmologist, many uninsured, low-income glaucoma patients cannot access care and progressively lose their sight. In June, Peterson and nine other patients enrolled in the program and are now receiving ongoing treatment for their glaucoma at the Free Clinic.
Due to generous contributions from the community, the time donated by the dedicated volunteers and the visual field exams donated by Vancouver Eye Care, the staff at the Free Clinic is excited to be able to take on the care of uninsured glaucoma patients in Clark County.
