Centro de Rehabilitación Visual, a new and larger eye care center, became a reality in 2006 with a dedication held on July 4, 2006. All vision care sponsored by the state of Guanajuato's Department of Infants and Family (DIF) has moved to the center with the first patients seen on July 6, 2006. The Centro de Rehabilitacion Visual contains both optometry and ophthalmology facilities. On the optometry side are 5 large examination rooms, a special testing room, an edging lab, and an office for the supervisor. In addition to Dr. Page (director of the center) and the student interns, 2 local optometrists see patients. An equipment shipment in the summer of 2005 supplied the clinic with new computers, office equipment, and ophthalmic instruments--including instruments that provide a means of taking photos of ocular findings. The shipment also contained new frames and lenses making the clinic's optical lab one of the best stocked labs in the area.

When the ophthalmology side is completed, a local ophthalmologist will join the staff and perform surgeries. Four consulting rooms and a surgery center with 2 surgery beds with extra space for pre- and post-operation patients is planned. With the addition of ophthalmology services to the center, intern rotations will most likely shift from primary care oriented to ocular disease based. The center (1) offers a chance to provide much needed eye care to individuals who otherwise might not get it and (2) is an outstanding educational opportunity for the students.

Centro de Rehabilitación Visual

Reception Desk

Waiting area

Exam Room

Before Centro de Rehabilitación Visual, space in Guanajuato's General Hospital had been remodeled to provide four complete examination lanes, special testing area, reception area, dispensing space, and an office for the IU School of Optometry Eye Care Center during the fall and winter of 1999. Used, donated, and some new equipment was shipped to Guanajuato in December 1999. Clinica Optometrica, a year-round teaching clinic, was opened in 2000. The first 4th-year optometry student clinical rotation to the Mexico clinic began in February 2000.

An edging lab was established in 2003. The IU School of Optometry transported approximately $30,000 worth (replacement value) of equipment to Guanajuato to set up the lab. Around 30,000 pairs of lenses have been donated by Essilor, Ocean Optical, and Spectera. VOSH Indiana has donated a significant number (approximately 6,000) of frames. PHOTO (right): The center's optician Luz Maria is shown working in the lab.

	URL: http://www.opt.indiana.edu/clinics/centers/mexico/clinic.htm Revised: October 26, 2007
	IU Optometry home page: http://www.opt.indiana.edu/ Comments: Web Administrator Page design and coding: Terri Greene Copyright © 2007, The Trustees of Indiana University