Eye Center Group Medical Optometrist Provides Eye Care in El Salvador
(Richmond, IN) August 29, 2007 - Richard B. Mangan, O.D., F.A.A.O. traveled
with a delegation from Christian Life Center Church in Dayton to King’s Castle
Ministries to El Salvador July 14-21 to provide much needed medical care to
residents. Along with fellow doctors, nurses, technicians and translators,
Dr. Mangan provides the experience and expertise of a medical optometrist.
Trained to diagnose and manage a variety of eye diseases, medical optometrists
also dispense glasses and contacts.
Earlier this summer, Eye Center Group patients donated eyeglasses that were no longer useful to them for the El Salvador Medical mission trip. During the weeklong mission, Dr. Mangan and the medical team provided vision and medical care to more than 100 residents in need each day.
Among his many impactful experiences on the 2007 El Salvador mission, Dr. Mangan chose to share a few of the most memorable:
“Prior to leaving for Central America, we were encouraged to pack extra clothes that we would be willing to leave behind for the locals working inside or around King’s Castle Ministries, our host mission. Many of the nationals that work so hard day-to-day at the main camp do not get paid, but are provided for. On Thursday, we were set-up to see patients at the main camp known as Castillo Del Rey, or Kings Castle. I could tell my next patient must have been one of the camp ‘employees’ because he showed up wearing a ‘UPS’ uniform that must have been donated from someone on a previous short-term mission. My first thought was ‘Wow, Brown really does go everywhere.’ My second thought was that I probably saved some lives that day by seeing him. Why you ask? From my examination, I determined that he was very nearsighted. In fact, he couldn’t see 2 inches past his face. Because one of Richmond Eye Center’s LASIK patients from little ole Richmond, Indiana cared enough to drive over to the office and donate an old pair of glasses, I was able to give this gentleman a tremendous gift, the gift of sight. How did this eye exam save lives? Turns out he was the shotgun-carrying night watchman for the camp!”
“The saddest stories revolved around the children. The average child gets one meal per day, usually around
dinnertime. During the day, if you are old enough to walk, you are old enough to assist in the coffee fields,
where most will earn $1.00 per day. To get them through the long, laborious days, they will often fill
themselves with the bitter coffee beans. One of the saddest stories I heard while on this trip, didn’t
even occur this year. It happened last year in Nicaragua. Apparently, Nicaragua has a city dump outside
their capital, of which many locals make their home. They do so because they want first crack at any food
that has been thrown out as waste. They also burn some of the garbage to keep warm at night. Apparently,
one day, a 5 year old was rummaging through the garbage for some food when a large dump truck dumped a
load on top of her, causing her to suffocate to death.”
King’s Castle Ministries is asking for help. King’s Castle is making an incredible
difference in the lives of the Children in El Salvador. Under the direction
and vision of Don & Terri Triplett, King’s Castle has ministered to the impoverished
for over 20 years. Some of their compassion ministries, especially the feeding
program, are in danger due to lack of funding. For a small donation of $20.00,
you can receive a touching 2008 calendar featuring a different child that
has been touched by the compassion ministry and feeding program. For immediate
donation or giving information, you can simply go to their website: www.kingscastle.org
or email Don Triplett at triplett@kingscastle.org.
Dr. Mangan comments, “The need in El Salvador and many of the Central American countries is astounding. It’s hard for us in the United States to imagine the magnitude of the problem at hand. If you share these stories with a few friends, and they share this story with a few of their friends, suddenly we are ‘making ripples’, and certainly making a difference in a number of children’s lives”.
As part of The Eye Center Group’s ongoing efforts to give back to the communities we serve, Dr. Mangan’s personal service to communities both locally and globally complements the Eye Center Group’s Charity Care program, in which our physicians have performed more than a thousand procedures totaling over $2.4 million, free of charge to those in need.
About Richard B. Mangan, O.D., F.A.A.O
Dr. Mangan specializes in the treatment and management of eye diseases as well as providing medical eye examinations, refractive surgery consultations and pre and post-operative care. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and his Doctorate of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry. Inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 2000, Dr. Mangan has received numerous honors, presented papers to national organizations, and acted as investigator/coordinator in laser refractive surgery studies. In addition, Dr. Mangan has an advanced certification in LASIK and experience in co-managing thousands of refractive surgeries. His specialization in refractive surgery has developed his role at The Eye Center Group into the Director of the Refractive Surgery Team. He is also a consultant for the American Optometric Association and an adjunct clinical professor at the Indiana University School of Optometry.
About The Eye Center Group
The Eye Center Group is the largest multi-specialty eye care practice in the state of Indiana. The Eye Group has on staff over twenty physicians board-certified and specialized in particular fields of eye care and offers nine locations throughout Indiana and Ohio, including, Richmond Eye Center, Muncie Eye Center, Fort Wayne Eye Center, Marion Eye Center, Kokomo Eye Center, Greenville Eye Center, Portland Eye Center, Winchester Eye Center and Connersville Eye Center. The Eye Center Group services include the full range of comprehensive medical and surgical eye care including: Laser Vision Correction (refractive surgery), cataract IOL surgery, glaucoma, retinal disease and surgery, oculoplastics, diabetic eye care, and general eye disease.
Contact:
Susan Conyers, Marketing Specialist
200 N. Tillotson Ave., Muncie, IN 47304
765.286.8888 or 1.800.223.2733
sconyers@eyecentergroup.com
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