The gift of sight was given to a number of local residents who can’t afford an eye appointment when Dr. Mark Welding donated his services for a 12-hour day in a special optometry clinic held last week sponsored by Welding Eyecare, Christian Community Action and the Lewisville Lion’s Club. With 121 patients on the waiting list for eye exams or eyeglass prescriptions, Dr. Welding opened his Highland Village office to patients that are normally seen in CCA’s Adult Health Clinic.  Doris Scales, Director of the CCA Adult Health Center, said some of these patients had been on the waiting list for up to five months because the patients’ needs were greater than the time allotted in their regular clinic where Dr. Welding has volunteered for the past six years.      

     A number of local residents were on hand volunteering, like Highland Village resident Amy Haynie, who is a CCA volunteer, an R.N. and a pastor at Annunciation Episcopal Church in Lewisville. She said the 12 hour day with no pay was Dr. Welding’s gift to CCA patients and the community. He was expected to see 85 patients in that 12 hour period, and Scales noted that Welding wasn’t just giving them a vision screening, but a comprehensive eye exam. A and A Optical of Carrollton donated the frames given away at the clinic, and each patient had a co-pay of between $20 and $40 dollars to cover the cost of their lenses. “These are patients that have no access to health care. We’ve had a 16% increase at CCA in the last year because of the economy,” Scales said, adding that Dr. Welding has volunteered at their clinic at least four hours a month since CCA started an optometry clinic in 2003.         

     Another volunteer was Carol Burt, who is on the board of the Lewisville Lion’s Club, a CCA volunteer, and a nurse at Medical City in Dallas. Burt, who has 11 children and 28 grandchildren, said volunteering is her way of saying thanks. “I’m the most blessed woman. This is my way of giving back,” she said. Welding expressed similar emotions. “My dad always taught me to be involved in the community, like he was. You have to give back what was given to you,” he said during a brief break in his 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. day. Welding has lived in the community since 1998 and has been active in a number of volunteer organizations, such as Flower Mound Rotary and Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the board of directors for New Horizon Foster Ranch. The doctor said many of the patients seen during the day do not have access to health care.

     “They don’t get a lot of medical care and many of them have problems like diabetes and hypertension,” said Dr. Welding, adding that another problem involves cataracts. “There aren’t any cataract surgeons donating their services right now, but we try by all means to find something for them.”  Welding also helps by getting medications for these patients through his pharmaceutical reps when possible. Throughout the day at Welding Eyecare, the Christmas spirit was evident with the gift given being one of sight. The doctor and other volunteers alike all said they hoped this special one-day event would help the CCA patients enjoy the holidays knowing their eye health and vision needs had been addressed.