The emergency department at Bluewater Health will soon be equipped with some much needed eyecare equipment.
The hospital recently received a $99,995 pledge from the Lions Eyes Right Foundation, a gift endorsed by the Petrolia Lions Club, for the purchase of an Optos Retinal Scanner and E-Lift Table for the hospital.
Bluewater Health Foundation Executive Director Kathy Alexander said the equipment will do a retinoscopy in a matter of seconds and give a clear and complete picture of the retina.
"[It's estimated] that over 1,200 high-risk patients annually will benefit from this piece of equipment. So, three or four people every single day come into our emergency department needing retinoscopy."
Alexander said currently, if this equipment is needed by a patient in Sarnia-Lambton, the individual is referred to London or a local ophthalmologist.
"And emergencies don't often happen during those nine to five business hours, so it typically would be that referral to London where they do currently have the equipment," she said. "To bring this equipment into our emergency setting is really, really important and crucial and will help the physicians and the care providers and the ophthalmologists that access Bluewater Health with that quick time to actually make the assessment."
Alexander said it's not typical equipment for emergency departments.
"Which is surprising because it's very fast and efficient, and it actually can look into the retinal area very, very quickly and determine if there's any trauma or difficulty. And time is very crucial with respect to accessing issues with the eyes or potential blindness or anything of that magnitude."
Alexander said they received the first $50,000 installment of the pledge over the weekend. She said the hospital will be ordering the equipment very soon and it should arrive shortly after.
The Eyes Right Foundation is a registered charity administered by a Board of Directors for The District A-1 Lions Sight Conservation Foundation, which funds equipment and technology for eyes and to maintain sight.
