1,931 eye patients examined in Alturas Eye Care Program

A total of 1,931 eye patients had availed themselves of free eye check-up and will automatically receive free prescription eyeglasses during the two-week “Eye Love You” Eye Care Program of the Alturas Group of Companies (AGC), conducted in the 13 barangays of Bohol, through Alay Marcela Foundation (AMF) in coordination with Ideal Vision Center.

Years ago before the pandemic, AGC reached out to the barangay folks who were suffering from poor eyesight. In the first phase of the said eye care program, there were 751 patients checked-up and all were given free eyeglasses.

This year there are more beneficiaries basing on the number of patients per barangay as follows: Lourdes, Cortes–130; La Hacienda, Alicia–241; Untaga, Alicia–170; Gabi, Ubay–141; Lomangog, Ubay–170; Rizal, Bilar-99; Subayon, Bilar–110; Catagbacan, Loon–186; San Isidro, Calape–168; Canhayupon, Dimiao–113; Lapsaon, Dimiao–80; Calabacita, Jagna–195; and Balili, Jagna-128.

The Alturas “Eye Love You” Eye Care Program was conducted from August 13 to 22, as part of the observance of Sight-Saving Month of August. It is also one of the many Bayanihan community outreach programs of AGC which will help strengthen public awareness on the importance of proper eye care.

Actually, “Eye Love You” stems from “Oplan Sagip Mata”, a comprehensive eye care program of DOH launched by the late Senator and former Health Secretary Juan Flavier in 1993, which until now provides free operations and services to address the increasing rate of blindness in the country. It has already helped over 500,000 beneficiaries nationwide.

ALTURAS “EYE LOVE YOU”. An eye patient undergoes an eye check-up during the Alturas “Eye Love You” Eye Care Program conducted recently in some barangays in Bohol.