IRT mission working on 750 eyeglass pairs

The optometry services of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training Operation CNMI Wellness mission has already received about 750 eyeglass orders out of their 800 no-cost pair of eyeglasses that are planned for the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

As of yesterday afternoon, they have already made over 400 pairs of eyeglasses and were crafting about 120 pairs a day since the beginning of the mission last Wednesday, July 12.

U.S. Navy Cpt. Brian Hatch, director of the Naval Ophthalmic Readiness Activity from the Navy Medical Readiness Logistics Command in Yorktown, Virginia, showed Saipan Tribune around for a tour of their lab at the Gualo Rai Youth Center yesterday afternoon and showed the inner workings of how two U.S. Army and two U.S. Navy certified opticians make the eyeglasses—from getting the prescription lenses, to mathematically aligning the lenses on a Lensometer, to carving out the lenses on a lens edger, to the eyeglass mounting process, and then inputting the information of the ready-made glasses onto a shared drive, which from there will be picked up by patients from Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, after the glasses are all packed up and delivered.

It takes about 25 minutes to make a pair of eyeglasses as a lot of accuracy and detail go into making sure that the glasses are set to the exact specification of the patient.

This operation, Hatch said, benefits both the community and the service members as the community avails of no-cost services, while the service members receive hands-on training in their field of work.

There are seven optometrists in this mission—with four on Saipan and three on Rota and Tinian—along with optometry technicians helping out. Hatch said that that’s a huge amount of eyecare going out to the community.

U.S. Navy Cpt. Brian Hatch, director of the Naval Ophthalmic Readiness Activity from the Navy Medical Readiness Logistics Command, right, points to the lensometer screen while U.S. Army SPC Krystan Armstrong works on an eyeglass lens during a tour of their mobile optometric support unit at the Gualo Rai Youth Center yesterday afternoon. (LEIGH GASES)

He thanked the staff of the Gualo Rai Youth Center for helping them set up, saying the facility is adequate for their mobile optometric support unit.

“This has been an ideal environment for us to operate. …They have good WiFi support so we can use the shared Google spreadsheet and they’ve been very supportive—even the neighbors wave. They’re very friendly and we love the island. You guys have been incredible hosts and we thank you,” said Hatch.

He also lauded U.S. Air Force LDCR Virginia Gilmore, who is in charge of all optometrists and optometry techs. “She included us from the beginning as soon as she knew she was a site lead. …She included us in that mid-planning basically all the way into the final planning and helped us…figure things out and it was on point. So we really appreciate it.”

In turn, Gilmore said that, as an eye doctor who’s done many of these types of missions, it is critical that Hatch’s group and representatives from his NORA group are on site. “Missions run so much better because eyeglasses are such a critical part of these missions to be able to work with a group as well-honed as this and as talented as this, and we can work together so well that the patients can get their glasses. It’s remarkable. …This has been a fantastic group to work with and I really appreciated getting to know them. It’s been a pleasure.”

For those interested in availing of free medical services, head to the American Memorial Park from 8am to 6pm and get registered. The Commonwealth Office of Transport Authority will be providing shuttle services to and from the Commonwealth Health Center and AMP.

The medical mission is set to conclude on July 19 at 12pm on Saipan and July 18 at 6pm on Rota and Tinian.