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Press Room
Project Vision Sheds Light on Importance of Screenings in Detection of Disease
August 25, 2009
Over a decade ago, Dr. Michael D. Bennett of the Retina Institute of Hawaii examined a young college graduate who, unexpectedly, was experiencing vision loss in both eyes. She had diabetes , and up until that point, had never obtained an eye exam. Knowing her vision could have been saved through early detection, in late 2007, Dr. Bennett founded Project Vision, a mobile screening unit that provides free vision screenings and advocates for the early detection of eye diseases and disorders.
Project Vision is a unique way to approach community outreach from a health standpoint," said Dr. Bennett. "This type of program can be perceived as expensive but losing vision is even more costly, both financially and emotionally. I hope what we're doing in Hawaii can serve as a national model for vision and health care, and that sponsors and community leaders will lend their support as they realize the importance of this initiative."
Project Vision is a 35-foot RV equipped with state-of-the art digital imaging equipment that takes high quality photos of the inside of the eye in a matter of minutes. Using the photos, ophthalmologists who review the images can detect eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. They can also detect health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
n the past 20 months, approximately 2,100 people have received the important vision screenings through Project Vision. Of those, 40 percent were found to have abnormalities in at least one eye. Over 300 of them had no health insurance. Typically, pain is what causes people to go to the doctor; however, because no pain fibers reside in the retina, people are not aware of their gradual vision loss until it is too late.
Currently, Project Vision primarily serves the island of Oahu, with manpower and additional support provided by the American Diabetes Association and various Lions Clubs. Project Vision has also made visits to the islands of Maui and Hawaii. Financial support is needed for Project Vision to continue its important work.
