GRAY – Demonstrating Tusculum University’s commitment to serve the community, two leaders in the Niswonger College of Optometry provided vision care to people in need during the inaugural day of a Remote Area Medical clinic at the Appalachian Fairgrounds.
Dr. Donnie Akers performs an eye exam at the Remote Area Medical clinic at the Appalachian Fairgrounds.
Dr. Donnie Akers, associate dean for academic affairs, and Dr. Adam Hickenbotham, assistant dean for research and chief of surgery, served as part of the optometry team Friday, Nov. 1, during the free clinic. The two optometrists reviewed people’s eye history, performed exams, wrote prescriptions for glasses and referred some patients to other providers on the team for further investigation of potential eye disease based on concerns these professionals developed during their consultations.
“The majority of what we saw were patients who have fallen through the cracks because they’re not receiving vision care,” Dr. Hickenbotham said. “Some of them have gone two, three, four, even five years without having glasses because they don’t have the funds for them, so they come to this clinic for them. I gave a prescription to about 95 percent of my patients for glasses.”
Dr. Akers said the RAM clinic underscores the community has a lot of unmet need for eye care, which the Niswonger College of Optometry plans to address by creating increased access.
“Our mission at the Niswonger College of Optometry is to serve the unserved and the underserved,” Dr. Akers said. “Most patients come to us because they cannot see well. We’re going to find undiagnosed issues with conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes and hypertension. There are a lot of people who are not being treated because of lack of awareness and access, and we will make a difference with that through our clinics.”
The Niswonger College of Optometry has achieved the second stage in the accreditation process and has elected to have a site visit from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education in the summer of 2020. Pending the receipt of necessary approvals from the accrediting body, Tusculum projects to begin classes in the fall of 2021. In the meantime, leaders are completing as many preparatory steps as possible while finding ways to engage with the community through events such as RAM.
Dr. Hickenbotham, who along with Dr. Akers has previously served at multiple RAM clinics. said he appreciated the opportunity to help patients at the clinic to achieve better eye health.
“Whenever you give medical care to someone who needs it and you improve their life, you definitely feel good about it,” he said.