Closer look at the optometry clinic

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE — In a world full of vision impairments, optometrists are the doctors combatting blurry vision, lazy eyes and a host of other ocular impediments.

U.S. Air Force photo: Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom

A patient is examined with an optical refractor at the Optometry Clinic at Cannon Air Force Base. Optometry specialists are trained to prescribe and fit lenses that will improve a patient's vision as well as treat various eye diseases and disorders.

The Air Commandos working in the optometry clinic at Cannon Air Force Base take it up another notch by focusing on outstanding customer service and appointment availability.

"Vision care makes you fit to fight," said Capt. Bryan Sixkiller, 27th Special Operations Medical Group optometry. "To do your job to the best of your ability, you have to be able to see clearly. When people can't see what they are doing, they are more prone to making mistakes and putting others at risk."

"Our mission is always for the active duty Airmen. We want to keep them in the fight, keep that mission going strong," he said.

Tech. Sgt. Josef Cole, 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs, recently underwent corrective eye surgery. He said he was impressed with the help he received from the Cannon optometry clinic as they helped prepare him for the procedure.

"The atmosphere was very friendly and caring," said Cole. "They took the time to do everything I needed. Maj. Timothy Landis [27th Special Operations Medical Group optometrists] even took extra time to describe the structure of the eyeball to me and explain some of the different surgery techniques that I could be looking into. I appreciated that."

USAF poto: Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom

U.S. Air Force Capt. Bryan Sixkiller, 27th Special Operation Medical Group optomitrist, gives a patient her exam

The optic doctors use numerous methods to observe the eye to determine if a problem is present. A commonly used piece of equipment, the phoropter, is a machine with different types of lenses, each with a prescribed level of vision enhancement to determine the correct prescription for near and far-sighted individuals. Other tools in the Optometrist belt are machines that take enlarged pictures of the surface and interior eyeball.

Sixkiller said he is able to correct blurry vision with glasses and contacts, order gas mask inserts, treat red eyes, eye injuries and other eye conditions.

USAF poto: Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom

An optometry technician takes a picture of a patient's eye during an exam

"The job satisfaction is high for an optometrist," he said. "It's very rewarding, especially when you are treating a kid who's never seen his mother clearly before and you give him glasses — it just changes. You can see it while he's sitting in the chair — it's this amazing transformation."

"We're more than happy to see active duty and their dependents," said Sixkiller before his next patient came into the office.

The eye clinic is dedicated to taking care of the base population and due to their expertise, they rarely have to refer Airmen and their families to an outside clinic, said Master Sgt. Victor Srams, NCO in charge of optometry. Same-day appointments are made for emergent vision care such as an infection. For all others, such as routine exams, the wait is currently short — an average of a week or two.

To schedule an appointment with the Cannon optometry clinic call 575-784-2778.