CNIB Eye Van helps patients receive care close to home

Tim Brody - Editor

Earlier this fall, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Eye Van paid a visit to Sioux Lookout.
“Operated by CNIB, the Medical Mobile Care Unit, known as the Eye Van, is a fully equipped, medical mobile eye-care clinic on wheels that travels more than 6,000 kilometres annually to provide service in Northern Ontario. With a commitment from more than 25 ophthalmologists, the CNIB Eye Van serves 4,500 patients.
“The CNIB Eye Van was established in 1972 as part of the Prevention of Blindness program in partnership with the Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (Ontario's Ophthalmologists), a section of the Ontario Medical Association… Ophthalmologists conduct vision exams, treat eye conditions, perform minor surgeries and offer medical advice and information about eye health. Nearly 90 per cent of the patients screened on the CNIB Eye Van are monitored for eye conditions that could lead to blindness, if left untreated,” CNIB’s website informed.
For Dr. Jim Farmer, an Ophthalmologist and Pathologist on tour with the Eye Van, Sioux Lookout is always a welcome stop.
Having toured with the Eye Van for nearly 30 years, Farmer said the first town he ever visited was Pickle Lake.
“I just thoroughly loved the people, the Lions, everybody. It was a wonderful experience. The thing I really like about Northern Ontario is the people are so appreciative.”
Farmer and his team saw approximately 25 patients while in Sioux Lookout.
Asked what keeps bringing him back to serve on the Eye Van each year, Farmer said, “I’ve been a firm believer in the Eye Van since the very outset.”
He added, “I really feel it’s giving back… I’ve been in practise as an Ophthalmologist for 39 years now and I thoroughly love the people in the north and I think this is an invaluable service because we can provide lasers to patients who have glaucoma, who have secondary cataracts, to improve the quality of their vision. It does save, for many patients, trips of very long distances that they would have to make to see a specialist and we can get them through.”
Parked at the Meno Ya Win Health Centre during its two day stay in Sioux Lookout, Dean Osmond, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at SLMHC shared, “SLMHC certainly appreciates the CNIB Medical Mobile Care Unit coming to our community. We are always trying to bring in and support health services closer to home, so that people don’t have to leave their community to access these services.”
Farmer said he had some opportunity to view the Health Centre and was impressed with what he saw, “I’ve walked through the facility and it’s magnificent…. It’s a beautiful hospital. It’s actually known just talking to people.”
Farmer said the province is lucky to have the Eye Van service, “Ontario is a wonderful place and we’re lucky by geography to be able to have the van. Many other provinces need this kind of service for underserviced areas, but they have problems with the logistics. Whereas between Highway 11 and Highway 17, we can connect two thirds of the province to this kind of service and so we’re very lucky.”
Local members of the Lions Club assist the Eye Van each year.
Lion Debbie Michaud shared, “We support by having volunteers to greet each patient and make reminder calls before their appointment. We help pay for the hotel costs of the staff. It is important because the Eye Van provides us with some of the best licenced Ophthalmologists to ensure our eyes are healthy. I had an eye injury years ago and they check to make sure I am not developing glaucoma. Without their visits I would need to travel to Thunder Bay or Winnipeg.”
Farmer stated of the support the Eye Van receives from Lions Club members across the province, “They are critical to our visit in every place. The Lions have been partners with us right from the beginning. To be able to run a project like this, it takes a tremendous amount of effort on the ground, and they are all volunteers… If it had not been for the Lions, this program would have struggled for years, so we are indebted to the Lions Club and to all the service clubs in the communities… we couldn’t run this without them.”