Leading eye specialists from the United States arrive into the country next week for their annual free eye clinic and surgery.

Dr. Jerrold Beeve, Head of the Beeve Foundation for World Eye & Health Care (also known as the Beeve Foundation) and a successful eye physician and surgeon practicising in Glendale, California, Mrs. Dorothy Beeve, a Registered Nurse and a team of other qualified nurses, expert surgeons and assistants will begin examining and treating patients at the Savusavu District Hospital from January 24 to February 31, 2008.

On Friday, February 2nd, 2008, Pediatric Ophthalmologist Dr. Jonathan Song of Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles and USC will be doing surgeries at Lautoka Hospital. Examinations for these will be done on February 1st 2008.

As the visiting doctors would like to treat as many people as possible, everyone with poor vision is encouraged to attend the clinic at the Savusavu District Hospital on the dates mentioned.

The clinics are free and the public with vision problems are encouraged to attend. To make appointments and to for other details, they may contact the Eye Departments at Savusavu and Lautoka Hospitals.

This will be the Foundation’s 18th visit to Fiji. The Beeve Foundation has treated 21,334 adults and children since it began its annual mission to Fiji. A total of 21,334 adults and children have received vision testing and treatment. The doctors have performed 1,748 surgical procedures, including 980 cataract surgeries and intraocular lens implants and have handed out more than 14,000 pairs of glasses. According to Dr. Beeve, they have seen or treated approximately 2% of the population. He added that “once you restore a person’s vision, you are giving them their life back”.