Dr. John M. Rabins, Ph.D., O.D. is a graduate of the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts. A retired Air Force colonel, he spent much of his career in Colorado Springs, having served tours of duty at the Air Force Academy, Peterson AFB, and Cheyenne Mountain. Having done a pediatric rotation during optometry school, Dr. Rabins loves working with children and families.
Medical Missions
Each of the past four years Dr. Rabins has gone on a medical missions trip to another country, where he has performed eye care for some of the poorest people in the world. In 2004 he visited a remote area in the Aragats region of Armenia, and each of the past three years he’s been to Abelines, El Salvador.
Abelines is a village on a mountain in southeastern El Salvador near the Honduran border. It has a population of 2,000– 4,000, with another 6,000 scattered along the mountain. They are extremely poor, with most living on less than $1 a day. There is neither electricity (the fortunate ones use car batteries in their homes) nor running water (no toilets, only outhouses). The people grow crops and raise animals, walking 2-4 hours to get to stores where they buy and sell products.
The para-churchgroup with whom Dr. Rabins works periodically brings in a doctor who provides primary care. However, the people cannot afford to see an optometrist, which is why this team effort is so important. The first year he saw well over a hundred optometry patients during his brief stay in Abelines --but this just scratched the surface of the need there. Many adults over 40 simply needed glasses for doing close-up work and many children needed basic reading glasses for school. A number of patients cried when he placed glasses on them and they could see well, some literally for the first time.
ADDRESS:
3585 Van Teylingen Drive,
Suite B
Colorado Springs, CO 80917
TELEPHONE:
(719) 550-EYES (3937)
FAX: (719) 268-6694
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
9am to 6pm
Wednesday
9am to 6pm
Thursday
9am to 6pm
Friday
8am to 4pm
3 comments:
It's great that there are well-known eye doctors who have to hear to go to far-flung places to help the underprivileged to regain their eyesight. And it is very touching that his patients cried with joy when they realized they could see clearly for the first time.
Brain Ferguson
Well, I do hope that more and more kind-hearted eye doctors like you would continue to render services to the underprivileged. Your deed is very noble, and I salute you for that.
Vincent Davis
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