KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Service members from the 51st Medical Group’s optometry flight at Osan Air Base, ROK recently visited the Wolf Pack to help ensure that the 8th Fighter Wing remains fit to fight.
Captain Anna Liew-Ramos, 51st MDG optometry officer in charge, and Tech. Sgt. Jonghwan Kim, 51st MDG human performance flight chief, recently made one of their week-long trips to Kunsan to better serve Wolf Pack Airmen who would have otherwise had to venture up to Osan for their optometry needs.
“My job as an optometrist is to provide spectacle correction and eye care for the workforce,” said Liew-Ramos. “Our services range from updating ASIMS to examining eyes for different ocular conditions, such as glaucoma or traumatic injuries. “
Additional services supported include M50 gas mask insert issue, air crew soft contact lens program and initial flying class exams.
“We conduct eye exams mainly for those who have a hard time seeing near or at distance,” said Kim. “Putting the right amount of refraction power on the lenses of their glasses can correct their vision to 20/20 in most cases.”
During their visit, Liew-Ramos and Kim provided optometry services for 55 patients across the Wolf Pack.
“Eye care is important because our vision is one of our five senses,” said Liew-Ramos. “Our eyes are a small window to our health. Oftentimes, eye care is synonymous to receiving spectacles, but it is sustainably more.”
Kim urges Airmen to visit their optometrist annually regardless of if they wear glasses or not.
“The human body changes over time and the same goes for our eyes,” said Kim. “There are eye diseases that if found early then we can help to preserve the vision. Annual eye exam helps to "detect" any abnormalities that may appear.
Osan’s optometry team visits the Wolf Pack approximately every three months to provide services critical to ensuring Kunsan personnel remain mission ready.
“I love my job. It is incredibly rewarding, to educate and to provide eye care,” concluded Liew-Ramos.