Seeing Clearly, from Woodbury to Paraguay

Lisa Weber and Christina Kinney, eye doctors at Woodbury’s , saw more than 2,000 patients during an outreach trip to a remote village in Paraguay in February.

But a few stood out.

“One older man was getting a pair of glasses because he couldn’t read the bible—his son was leaving and couldn’t read it to him anymore,” Kinney said.

Weber recalled a 17-year-old student with severe near-sightedness who couldn’t read the board while he was in class. “He just had a big smile on his face and said, ‘Oh, perfect!’”

The two were in Paraguay with Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH); it was the first such mission trip for Kinney and the second for Weber, who went to southern Mexico last year. Joining them was John Spencer, an eye doctor at Allina’s West St. Paul clinic.

“We just decided it was time to go,” Kinney said.

The group brought 4,000 pairs of glasses to the village on the outskirts of Acahay in Paraguay, distributed eye drops for cataracts and glaucoma, and checked patients’ general eye health.

“Even giving them a simple pair of reading glasses changes their whole world,” Kinney said. “They can read their bible, they can cook. So an over-the-counter pair of glasses can be a big deal for them.”

Working at the Clyde E. Bay Foundation’s clinic, the contingent received support from VOSH volunteers, medical students from major towns in the area and translators. Hundreds of people lined up at dark each morning—most simply don’t have access to an eye doctor, Weber said, and the nearest major town is two hours away. Even the clinic’s primary care doctor and members of a mariachi band that played for the group got their eyes checked.

“When you see 400 patients a day, it puts it into perspective when you think you’re busy at work,” Weber said.

One surprise for the doctors was how many people said they had eye problems after staring at their computers or cell phones all day. The small village doesn’t have land lines. “They kind of skipped over that,” Kinney said.

Overall, both Kinney and Weber said it was a worthwhile experience.

“One of our VOSH volunteers said that you’ll take away so much more than you give—it stays with you. You don’t just go home and you’re done,” Weber said.