RMU: Optometry students provide refugees with free eye exams while gaining real-life experience
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- Caitlin Truong, an optometric medicine student at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, adjusts eye exam equipment at the Provo-based school’s Eye Institute during a recent pro bono clinic for refugees in Utah Valley.
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- Brigham Young University alumnus Ashton Davis, who is now in the optometric medicine program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, calls it “huge” that students get real-world experience at pro bono eye clinics as part of their studies at RMU.
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- Amanda Johnson, an optometric medicine student at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, provides an eye exam at the Provo-based school’s Eye Institute during a recent pro bono clinic for refugees in Utah Valley.
Though Ashton Davis learns a lot from lectures, studying and practicing in labs, the future optometric physician prefers real-world educational experiences like he recently had at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU).
Davis was among a half-dozen students who recently helped with a pro bono clinic for dozens of underserved people at the RMU Eye Institute. The EyeCare4Kids and Utah Valley Refugees organizations joined RMU in providing comprehensive eye exams, no-cost prescription glasses and other vision-related health care services to a grateful group from around the world.
“It’s super cool to meet people from all over who have never had a typical doctor experience, and it’s usually very positive. I love interacting with people from different places,” Davis said. “In the classroom, we study a lot and look at books, but here I get to apply what I’ve learned. It’s awesome to see people improve their vision and say things like, ‘Oh, yeah, I can read that now.'”
For this clinic, EyeCare4Kids, a nonprofit organization out of Midvale, provided the glasses free of charge. They brought a huge assortment of 500 frames so participants could find a comfortable, sturdy pair that suited their style.
“Partnering with Rocky Mountain University has significantly expanded our capacity. With RMU, we can host bigger events where they provide doctors and care, and patients come to us to choose glasses,” said EyeCare4Kids Community Outreach Coordinator Melanie Robbins. “It’s incredibly rewarding. I feel like I get paid to be an angel, helping people and meeting amazing community groups across the state.”
Amanda Nelson, the Utah Valley Refugees program director, said health care is “a major challenge” for refugees who often come to the U.S. from countries with inadequate services. That’s why they partner with RMU to provide optometry and mental health services (in conjunction with the university’s counseling program).
“This event is really impactful,” Nelson said. “Affordable eye care is a big blessing, especially since many have low-income jobs and are juggling costs like rent. Reducing health care costs eases their transition to life here and goes a long way.
“Personally, I got glasses at age 8, and it was life-changing. I didn’t realize everyone else didn’t see things slightly blurry, so I understand how clear vision makes a huge difference.”
Since opening the first Doctor of Optometry program in the Intermountain West in 2023, RMU’s program has hosted more than 50 similar pro bono events. They’ve seen more than 100 patients in a single clinic and always set up appointments for those who can’t be examined during the allotted time period.
Dr. Court Wilkins, RMU’s assistant dean of clinical affairs, loves that the university and its partners are able to help community members improve their eye health while providing hands-on learning for students.
“It’s invaluable for their education,” Dr. Wilkins said. “Students expect to perform routine vision care, but this time they encountered a lot of disease processes, which was a significant learning opportunity. They got firsthand experience seeing and treating these patients and learning how to manage complex cases, which greatly enhances their training.”
Many of the eye clinics are held at schools, churches and community centers with mobile exam equipment, so being able to use RMU’s state-of-the-art clinic and equipment on this occasion increased the volunteers’ capabilities and efficiency. RMU students helped patients with routine eye care and some severe cases, including one whose vision was worse than 20/400. They diagnosed a variety of conditions and, thankfully, were able to help a person suffering from an emergency case of scleritis (a condition causing painful irritation and inflammation of the whites of the eyes).
“Many patients come in thinking they just need a change of glasses, but we often uncover more serious conditions, like glaucoma or retinal issues, that require ongoing treatment,” Dr. Wilkins said. “These are progressive diseases, meaning patients will need to return to the clinic regularly for the rest of their lives. It’s critical to catch and treat these conditions early to improve their quality of life.”
This refugee clinic was the third hands-on charitable opportunity for Davis, an Oregon native who earned a bachelor’s degree at Brigham Young University.
“It’s huge. It’s real-world experience I don’t get in class, where I usually practice on classmates who know what I’m doing and are aware of their vision issues,” he said. “Here, I have to figure things out on my own, which is really cool.”
Jody Genessy is the senior content writer at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
