48th AMDS team returns from Djibouti

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Travis Harris
  • 48th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  An optometry team from the 48th Aerospace Medicine Squadron joined peers from Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, and Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as part of the first Medical Civic Action Program operation in Tadjoura, Djibouti, recently.

Working side-by-side with Djiboutian doctors, the Medical Civic Action Program clinic treated approximately 900 local nationals and Djiboutian armed forces members in just two days.

Optometrist Maj. Justin Sandholm and optometry technicians Staff Sgt. Sarah Mayersky and Tech. Sgt. Travis Harris worked on the 14-member team to treat patients with ocular health conditions ranging from simple far-sightedness to advanced corneal degeneration.

While patients who required more advanced procedures were referred to a local ophthalmologist, most exhibited correctable vision and received prescription glasses to improve their daily lives.

"No one left our clinic without sunglasses, artificial tears or regular eyeglasses," said Sergeant Mayersky.

One case involved a young boy who received his first pair of eyeglasses.

"He looked at his mom and smiled," said Sergeant Mayersky. "It was the first time he'd seen her face clearly."