COMMUNITY
A patient being assisted
The waiting room at the clinic in El Progreso, Honduras
matter how challenging. Nearly all of the 52 patients who underwent surgery were restored to full 20/20 vision, which meant their independence was also restored. Now they can work again, play again, provide for their families. Among those providing support for the physicians was Dr. Higginbotham’s daughter, Erin. Currently a pre-med student at UC San Diego, Erin performed scrub tech duties with Lisa Evans as her backup. (As manager of Pacific Eye’s Surgical Center and as president of the Grover Beach Rotary Club, it was Evans who brought together the four clubs that financed the trip to Honduras.) Higginbotham said that one of the most rewarding aspects of this trip for him was seeing the sparkle in his daughter’s eyes at the end of a long day. “She’ll be a doctor, too, one day,” he said.
In addition to scheduled cataract surgeries, the doctors also addressed emergencies such as metal fragments in the eye and one patient with crossed eyes. “By day’s end, we were all exhausted, sweating,” said Abroms. “You gain a real perspective about how lucky we are in this country; how much we take for granted.” Both physicians have expressed a desire to return to third world areas for future medical missions. In fact, Higginbotham has a long history of these trips to Mexico and Vietnam. He’s formed a nonprofit called Pacific Eye Foundation, whose purpose is to set up eye surgery clinics in Vietnam for teaching and research. “It’s incredibly gratifying to help people see a new world,” he said.
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Dr. Higginbotham with daughter, Erin
… the solution to vision problems has never been more within reach.” In addition to their recent international missions, Pacific Eye will be establishing a free clinic right here at home, in San Luis Obispo County, for those with little money and no resources for eye care. The public is invited to support these clinics by donating to the Pacific Eye Foundation. Find out how by calling (805) 545-8100.
Abroms has also been making a global impact for many years. He’s performed eye surgeries in Vietnam, India, and South America. “I’ve always had a passion for fixing things. As an ophthalmologist, I am challenged by fixing complicated medical problems. Today
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