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John Amato | profile | all galleries >> Pohnpei, Micronesia -FSM- 2010, 2011 >> Restoring near vision and protecting eyes with sunglasses. 2010-2011 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Restoring near vision and protecting eyes with sunglasses. 2010-2011

2010-2011 The fine nurses and staff, (with Laurie Crum RN pulling this together at the hospital) of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and Dr. Les Shipley and Associates of Santa Rosa, California, and The Pacific Partnership, a multinational consortium of the militaries, donated reading glasses. There are a number of people on Pohnpei that can read and write but lack glasses for close vision. There are also many artisans that carve on the island and for these, close vision is also essential. This program is aimed at helping restore this vision. All glasses have been donated and are given free of charge. I check vision with some simple tests and from there, fit the recipient with the most appropriate magnification.

There were also sunglasses donated that are being distributed and help greatly in this island nation with 12 hours of sun a day. Fishing on the sea can be challenging with bright sun overhead.

With the generosity shown in donating these glasses you have reached out and touched someone in need thousands of miles away and they thank you.

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Sun glasses were donated by the Pacific Partnership 2011, July, 2011.

The sunglasses are being distributed to the Pingelap communities, where achromatopsia, an autosomal recessive congenital disorder that affects color perception to varying degrees with light sensitivity so extreme that for many, there is blindness during daylight hours. Ten percent of the Pingelap community suffer from this with 30 percent being carriers. I have noted that jerk nystagmus often often is seen with this in this community. The normal occurrence of this disorder in the general populace is 1:33,000.

More images will be added.

Laurie Crum RN BSN and friends of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital have now sent over 150 pairs of reading glasses. What a gift they have given!

With the reading glasses given by Pacific Partnership, approximately 1000 pairs of glasses for us to distribute and that of SRM Hospital, over 900 pairs of reading glasses were given out after testing and around 400 pairs of sunglasses.


Project initiated, eyes tested and glasses distributed by John Amato RN.
New glasses. IMG_8542_t.jpg
New glasses. IMG_8542_t.jpg
IMG_8534.jpg
IMG_8534.jpg
IMG_8524.jpg
IMG_8524.jpg
IMG_8515.jpg
IMG_8515.jpg
Grandmother and daughter. IMG_8452.jpg
Grandmother and daughter. IMG_8452.jpg
Sunglasses and reading glasses were much appreciated. IMG_8422.jpg
Sunglasses and reading glasses were much appreciated. IMG_8422.jpg
Plus 4 glasses worked out great. IMG_8435.jpg
Plus 4 glasses worked out great. IMG_8435.jpg
Ferny has the only fitness center on Pohnpei and is expanding it. L1017371.jpg
Ferny has the only fitness center on Pohnpei and is expanding it. L1017371.jpg
L1017523.jpg
L1017523.jpg
L1017393.jpg
L1017393.jpg
L1017360-3.jpg
L1017360-3.jpg
Achromatopsia, color blindness and for many in this population, extreme light sensitivity. IMG_8012.jpg
Achromatopsia, color blindness and for many in this population, extreme light sensitivity. IMG_8012.jpg
Receiving sun glasses brought by the Pacific Partnership 2011.  IMG_8013.jpg
Receiving sun glasses brought by the Pacific Partnership 2011. IMG_8013.jpg
Receiving reading and sunglasses. IMG_8006.jpg
Receiving reading and sunglasses. IMG_8006.jpg
Sungalsses distributed in the Pingelap community of Mand. IMG_7995.jpg
Sungalsses distributed in the Pingelap community of Mand. IMG_7995.jpg
Achromatopsia, a rare genetic eye disease. IMG_7660.jpg
Achromatopsia, a rare genetic eye disease. IMG_7660.jpg
Rekihna Abrahan (by marriage), child, and Saniser Abrahan. All three have Achromatopsia.IMG_7645.jpg
Rekihna Abrahan (by marriage), child, and Saniser Abrahan. All three have Achromatopsia.IMG_7645.jpg
Sinden Boaz IMG_7653.jpg
Sinden Boaz IMG_7653.jpg
Achromatopsia, a rare genetic eye disease. IMG_7647.jpg
Achromatopsia, a rare genetic eye disease. IMG_7647.jpg
IMG_7565.jpg
IMG_7565.jpg
His vision was such that he could see close but not far. IMG_7575.jpg
His vision was such that he could see close but not far. IMG_7575.jpg
Pingelap community at the end of the one lane dirt road. IMG_7574.jpg
Pingelap community at the end of the one lane dirt road. IMG_7574.jpg
Myopia, caused by cataracts. IMG_7282.jpg
Myopia, caused by cataracts. IMG_7282.jpg
I could fit everyone with glasses except the woman 3rd from the left. IMG_7284.jpg
I could fit everyone with glasses except the woman 3rd from the left. IMG_7284.jpg
Mikel Mateak using his new glasses. L1012596.jpg
Mikel Mateak using his new glasses. L1012596.jpg
Unable to see to read his watch or read, walk and with very poor hearing, some were saying he was too old. . . IMG_6529.jpg
Unable to see to read his watch or read, walk and with very poor hearing, some were saying he was too old. . . IMG_6529.jpg
Blind in his left eye for 20 years after a fishing accident. IMG_6504.jpg
Blind in his left eye for 20 years after a fishing accident. IMG_6504.jpg
Glad to get some reading glasses. IMG_6484.jpg
Glad to get some reading glasses. IMG_6484.jpg
Getting the right magnification. The soap box was a favorite to look at for correct magnification. IMG_6470.jpg
Getting the right magnification. The soap box was a favorite to look at for correct magnification. IMG_6470.jpg
The distance she needed before reading glasses. IMG_6468.jpg
The distance she needed before reading glasses. IMG_6468.jpg
She wasn't expecting glasses but was brought by a friend who had just received a pair. . IMG_6451.jpg
She wasn't expecting glasses but was brought by a friend who had just received a pair. . IMG_6451.jpg
Getting the right ones. IMG_6450.jpg
Getting the right ones. IMG_6450.jpg
Grateful for the glasses. IMG_6433.jpg
Grateful for the glasses. IMG_6433.jpg
Amy checking some glasses for a recipient. IMG_6403.jpg
Amy checking some glasses for a recipient. IMG_6403.jpg
Got close vision. IMG_6382.jpg
Got close vision. IMG_6382.jpg
IMG_6376.jpg
IMG_6376.jpg
Happy for the consideration. IMG_6341.jpg
Happy for the consideration. IMG_6341.jpg
Kapinga village. IMG_6502.jpg
Kapinga village. IMG_6502.jpg
Women of Kapinga village with new reading glasses. IMG_6477.jpg
Women of Kapinga village with new reading glasses. IMG_6477.jpg
Rose got reading glasses today, May 14, 2011. L1012237.jpg
Rose got reading glasses today, May 14, 2011. L1012237.jpg
Namir Andrew and Bersiana Sick L1012650.jpg
Namir Andrew and Bersiana Sick L1012650.jpg
Billy Mateak. Trying out some new glasses.  L1012539.jpg
Billy Mateak. Trying out some new glasses. L1012539.jpg
Matuit Sick  L1012696.jpg
Matuit Sick L1012696.jpg
Martin Sick L1012685.jpg
Martin Sick L1012685.jpg
Deide Patterson L1012683.jpg
Deide Patterson L1012683.jpg
Erwine Samuen L1012665.jpg
Erwine Samuen L1012665.jpg
Namir Andrew L1012649.jpg
Namir Andrew L1012649.jpg
Joe Marua L1012617.jpg
Joe Marua L1012617.jpg
Uruhed Tum with sunglasses that are also reading glasses. L1012607.jpg
Uruhed Tum with sunglasses that are also reading glasses. L1012607.jpg
Dusty Johnny L1012567.jpg
Dusty Johnny L1012567.jpg
Dosio Kaiapas L1012549.jpg
Dosio Kaiapas L1012549.jpg
Ed Miller L1012548.jpg
Ed Miller L1012548.jpg
Sam.   L1012524.jpg
Sam. L1012524.jpg
Santa Edwin is 77 and finally got some reading glasses.  L1012484.jpg
Santa Edwin is 77 and finally got some reading glasses. L1012484.jpg
Sorting some of the reading glasses. IMG_6268.jpg
Sorting some of the reading glasses. IMG_6268.jpg
Welsihter has achromatopsia, an eye condition that makes it painful to be in any bright light and . . . IMG_6280.jpg
Welsihter has achromatopsia, an eye condition that makes it painful to be in any bright light and . . . IMG_6280.jpg
Sunglasses will help with her eye condition, achromatopsia.   IMG_6279.jpg
Sunglasses will help with her eye condition, achromatopsia. IMG_6279.jpg
Corrective reading glasses. IMG_6272.jpg
Corrective reading glasses. IMG_6272.jpg
Lepen Lison Leon Aldis L1012298.jpg
Lepen Lison Leon Aldis L1012298.jpg
Lampein Leilani Aldis L1012294.jpg
Lampein Leilani Aldis L1012294.jpg
Lampein Leilani Aldis L1012290.jpg
Lampein Leilani Aldis L1012290.jpg
It helps to have sunglasses when fishing. L1012270.jpg
It helps to have sunglasses when fishing. L1012270.jpg
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L1012208.jpg
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L1012207.jpg
Karmy Hicks of Kapinga village. L1012214.jpg
Karmy Hicks of Kapinga village. L1012214.jpg