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6 Wednesday February 10 2016 HEALTH WELLNESS EYE CARE By DALI CARMICHAEL Every year as many as 14000 to 15000 residents aroundtheNWTandNunavut receiveeyecarefromatraveling bandofmedicalprofessionals. WhomakesupthisteamIn honour of White Cane Week an annual event developed to create awareness of issues that confront the blind and vision-impaired community taking place this year from Feb. 7 to Feb.13 the Journal decided to take a look. The eye techs known more professionally as certified ophthalmic medical techni- cians work out of the Yellow- knife Eye Clinic at Stanton Territorial Hospital. There is only one ophthal- mologistintheNWTDr.Leon- ardSmithandhealsodoesthe KitikmeotRegionofNunavut said Lynda Healy one of the eye techs. Then theres 12 of useyetechsthatworkandare trained under him. These care workers are trained to assess eye prob- lems and refer patients to the ophthalmologist for any ab- normalities that are detected. They can also write lens pre- scriptions and perform some medical procedures Healy said she has pulled metal and wood shards from many eyes in her time. Every community in the NWT and Nunavut is ser- viced by one of the nomadic techs some as often as once a month others only once a year. It all depends on popu- lation size and accessibility. Wetravelonceamonthand theclinicscanrangeanywhere from four to 10 days Healy said.Between40and100days a year each tech will travel. In that timeframe we travel to all of these communities but we also run our clinic here in Yellowknife where were often bringing patients down from other communities that weve triaged and have to deal with more testing or the ophthal- mologist wants to see them. Unlike the rest of Canada theNWTandNunavutareser- vicedbyophthalmologistsnot optometrists.Anophthalmol- ogist is a medical doctor rst whospecializesintheeyeand can perform surgeries. They also treat glaucoma diabetes retinaldetachmentiritisreti- nitis pigmentosa every type ofpathologyoftheeyethatyou can think of Healy said. Alternatively optome- trists are trained to assess eyes and refer patients to ophthalmologists. The techs have been trainedtoalevelofasecond-or Army of eye techs defend vision around the North third-yearophthalmologyres- ident in being able to identify dierentdiseasesoftheeyeso weknowwhattobringforward to the opthamologist Healy said. Sometimes the public perception is that were not as qualied as they are but as I mentioned before we work under the direct supervision of an opthamologist. Were highly trained in a variety of popular diseases and pa- thologies of the eye which is really quite important when weregoingintosomeofthese places to be able to see these types of things. Eyetechscanundergoallof their training through a pro- gram oered in Yellowknife. Its a very unique training program as students within thersttwomonthsoftheyear aretravelingwithaseniortech and training right on the job Healy noted. Its intense its twoyearsbutitssorewarding. Its not an easy life some- times but the independent nature of the job and the satisfaction that comes with helping others maintain their sense of sight makes it all worth it Healy said. Thetravelcanbequitechal- lenging at times she noted. It takes us two days to get as far North as Resolute Bay. Its suchanindependentposition thatyoureinwhenyouactually get to these places you do 12- hourdayseverydayandyoure helping members of the com- munity without them having toactuallyyelsewheretoget eyeservice.Ithinkitsapretty remarkablepartofourhealth- care system. 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Lunch at NUP Daily Draw 50 Gift Card Draw 3 Prizes for Bingo - 25 each Activity Bingo at NUP Theme SportsHobby Day Sponsor Business Administration Breakfast Muffins Yogurt Lunch Subway Lunch in Lobby Daily Draw 50 Gift Card Draw Activity Snowshoeing at Lunch Theme Aurora College Colours Day Sponsor Office of the President Breakfast Granola Bars Yogurt Lunch Catered at NUP Daily Draw 50 Gift Card Draw Entertainment Jiggers Theme Wild Hat Hair Day Sponsor Developmental Studies Breakfast Muffins Yogurt Lunch Dominos Pizza Lunch at Lobby Daily Draw 50 Gift Card Draw 100 Gift Basket Passport Draw Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Thebacha Campus Yellowknife North Slave Campus Aurora Campus Aurora College Week 2016 Events and times are subject to change For more information email infoauroracollege.nt.ca February 15-19 The travelling team of opthalmic eye technicians from the Yellowknife Eye Clinic.