VIP, Primary Eyecare hold free eye exams

In honor of January being Glaucoma Awareness Month, Visually Impaired People Inc. and Primary Eyecare Center held its annual free eye exams to give Dallas County residents an opportunity to get checked for the disease that can lead to blindness.

Dr. Kristina Lovinggood at Primary Eyecare sees about 15 patients each year for the free eye exams and said she has found signs of glaucoma in some patients seen on that day.

“People don’t realize the importance of regular eye exams,” Lovinggood said. “We see it in children as young as six months old. … Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in world and it is easy to treat with eye drops at bedtime. But you need to get checked so know you have it. Don’t want it to be too late.”

VIP CEO William Bowman, who has had glaucoma since he was a baby, said it is important for people 55 and over to get an eye exam every year to catch early signs of sight problems.

“People don’t understand what glaucoma is,” he said, adding many find out after losing their sight.

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Before the exams began, Bowman held a short press conference where he received a proclamation from the Dallas County Commission and President Jimmy Nunn and the Selma City Council and Mayor James Perkins Jr. recognizing January as glaucoma awareness month.

Nunn attended the press conference and said he sees the importance of glaucoma awareness and spreading the word about the “sight-stealing disease.” Studies show 3 million people in the US have glaucoma and it is projected to increase to 4.2 million by 2030.

“We encourage citizens in Dallas County to get tested,” he said.

Dallas County Commissioner Vivian Rogers also attended the press conference and said she has glaucoma. She thanked Bowman for his dedication to inform the community about eye impairments.

“You are a jewel to community,” she said. “You have worked hard to help people with glaucoma and eye disease, and we appreciate that.”