Eyeworld

EW NEWS & OPINION June 2016 31 "It doesn't have to be a Con- tinuing Promise mission, but there are so many organizations around the world that doctors can join to "Somewhere like Haiti—it's such a depressed country to begin with—to not have the opportunity to get something like that, which is an easy procedure to repair and fix, would be devastating," he con- tinued, saying that many in these countries still go without treatment as only a fraction can be treated on the missions. Attending the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996, completing his medical education at the University of Virginia, and receiving specialized training in ophthalmology at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, Dr. Stolldorf said he always had an in- terest in doing humanitarian work. "I think that as a surgeon this is a chance to do pure medicine for the sake of good," he said. "You help people and give them what they need in a world where, unfor- tunately, things like money, reim- bursements, and business get in the way of why a lot of people went into medicine in the first place." While patients would often thank him for his work, Dr. Stolldorf said he would have turned that thank you back to them if there wasn't a language barrier. "I benefitted just as much as them because it was extremely rewarding," he said. Though rewarding for many who do this type of work from an individual standpoint, why is the U.S. military's involvement specif- ically in such missions important? Dr. Stolldorf said it's the United States' way of telling its neighbors "we care about you." "That's what it's all about, building bridges between us and our neighbors," he said. Dr. Stolldorf said surgeons do not have to be active duty military to participate on missions with the USNS Comfort. Project HOPE, for example, just completed its 35th humanitarian mission with the Department of Defense by sending medical volunteers on Continuing Promise. Mr. De Herrera said he hopes that his photographs help inspire people to consider giving a week of their time to serve on such a mission. do this type of work in Third World countries," he said. "Perhaps this could be inspirational." EW marking pattern Using this marker the surgeon impresses three dot-shaped landmarks at the 3, 6, & 9 o'clock positions. The tips of the prongs are flattened to prevent damage to the epithelium even if the patient inadvertently moves. Mark the patient To correctly position the gauge, the surgeon simply aligns the notches on the inside edge of this instrument with the dots produced by the Henderson Alignment Marker. Orient the gauge to the marks Mark the axis of astigmatism Once the gauge is oriented, the surgeon simply aligns the marks of this instrument with the desired degree lines on the gauge. This produces two thin lines along the axis of astigmatism which can be used to correctly align the toric IOL. K3-7908 Henderson Alignment Marker K3-7912 Henderson Toric IOL Marker Henderson Instruments for toric IOLs Instruments designed by Bonnie Henderson, MD of Boston, Massachusetts Henderson Instruments K3-7904 Henderson Degree Gauge K3-7905 Henderson Degree Gauge, with teeth 800-225-1195 • www.katena.com ® Contact information De Herrera: www.alandeherrera.com Stolldorf: hunter_stolldorf@hotmail.com

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