Eye Van to visit Rainy River July 16-20th

News Release
CNIB

Sudbury, ON, July 5, 2007 - This spring the Ontario Mobile Medical Eye Care UNit, known as the CNIB Eye Van, rolled out on its 35th year of delivering critical medical eye care to remote areas of Northern Ontario where services are not available. A fully-equipped, state-of-the-art medical eye care clinic on wheels, the Eye Van travels over 6,000 km to 30 communities each year. “The Eye Van continues year after year thanks to the tremendous support we receive from the communities we visit,” says Monique Pilkington, Manager of the CNIB’s Eye Van program. “From arranging a location for the clinic and booking appointments to the warm welcome given to our staff, the local community has been instrumental to the success of the program.” Eye Van staff, comprised of two CNIB ophthalmic assistants and a rotating team of visiting ophthalmologists (medical eye care specialists and surgeons), carry out vision screening, treat eye condition, and even perform minor surgery. More than 5,000 patients are examined on the Eye Van each year. The Eye Van is an integral part of the Prevention of Blindness program for both CNIB and the Ontario Medical Association Section of Ophthalmology. “Many of the people we see on the Eye Van would suffer significant visual loss if they did not receive treatment,” says Dr. Steve Arshinoff MD FRCSC, CNIB Eye Van Medical Director. “I want to thank all the ophthalmologists who give of their free time to travel th north with the Eye Van, and especially the members of our Medical Advisory Committee.” Eye Van doctors also provide educational lectures on eye care for local doctors and nurses in the communities it visits. This year’s lecture series is funded through an education grant from Alcon Canada. The Eye Van is a custom-made transport truck and 48 foot trailer that includes reception and waiting areas, a vision screening area and a doctor’s examination room. Special features include a reinforced floor and hydraulic levelling system that allows surgery to be performed on site, as well as state-of-the-art SLT, YAG and retinal lasers that are used to treat glaucoma and other ocular problems. The concept of a travelling clinic was developed in 1971 by Dr. William Hunter, a Toronto ophthalmologist who had previously practiced as a family doctor in far Northern Ontario, and Ross Purse, Director of CNIB’s Ontario Division. Early in his medical career, Dr. Hunter experienced the limited medical services available to remote communities and wanted to do something more. Dr. Hunter served as founder and Medical Director of the Eye Van program for 25 years, retiring in 1997. Dr. Steve Arshinoff has since served as the Eye Van Medical Director. The Eye Van is possible thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, Physician’s Services Incorporated (PSI) Foundation, Pfizer Canada Inc., Manitoulin Transport Inc., Lions Clubs International, foundations, service clubs and individual and corporate donors. The Eye Van will be in Rainy River from July 16 - 20. CNIB would like to thank Miriam Rebekah Lodge, Royal Canadian Legion Major Hughes Branch No. 54 and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines for their support and assistance. CNIB is a nationwide, community-based, registered charity committed to public education, research and the vision health of all Canadians. CNIB provides the services and support necessary to enjoy a good quality of life, while living with vision loss. Please visit www.cnib.ca.