Leading eye specialists from the United States will be arriving into the country in early February, 2009, 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, will again lead a team of doctors and eye specialist including Mrs. Dorothy Beeve, a Registered Nurse and two assistants.

The team will begin examining and treating patients at the Savusavu District Hospital from Thursday, February 5 to Friday, February 13, 2009. Other specialized eye treatments will also be done at Lautoka Hospital. Details of these will soon be announced shortly.

Since their first visit to Fiji in 1991, the Beeve Foundation has conducted free vision testing for over 19,495 children and adults. They have, after examination and treatment, dispensed over 16,000 pairs of glasses and have performed over close to 2000 surgeries. The surgeries included cataract surgeries with intraocular lens implant, corneal transplants, laser surgeries and surgery to correct strabismus (cross eye condition) in children, amongst other specialized treatments. All these have been provided free of charge.

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 as early as possible when it is open. This will ensure that everyone receives treatment. The doctors will be conducting eye examinations, surgery if required, and distributing glasses.

The public may contact the Savusavu Hospital for additional information on the eye clinics. Additionalinformation on the Beeve Foundation may be obtained from Florence Swamy of the FAVC on 330 6662/ 992 6665