As we approach the holiday season, just wanted to share a glimpse what’s going on with us…

Dr. Randy Burks of Ophthalmology Consultants in Margate has led expeditions into impoverished areas of Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico and Jamaica to help victims of blinding cataracts.  But this year, he is keeping his team right here at home.  “Many members of our own community suffer from sight-distorting cataracts and either don’t make enough money to buy health insurance or make too much to qualify for Medicaid”, says Dr. Burks.  So he and his partner, Dr. Ray Gailitis, are donating their time and expertise to perform free, sight restoring cataract eye surgery to uninsured working Americans during the Thanksgiving holidays. 

“Cataracts cause a cloudiness to develop in the otherwise clear crystalline lens of the eye, deteriorating to blindness, over time.  Patients, who could otherwise be productive members of their families and society become a burden when cataracts disable them.  By performing modern cataract surgery, we are able to return vision to those who, because they have no health insurance, could never afford this kind of care,” continues Burks.  “After a quick recovery these patients return to work and become productive once again.”  

Dr. Burks teamed up with the Caridad Outreach Health Center of Boynton Beach and the HCA Outpatient Surgical Center at Coral Springs.   The HCA is a state-of-the-art, multi-specialty, outpatient surgical facility; and the Caridad Center provides free, quality, medical care to low-income and uninsured individuals who live and work in South Florida.  “We are excited and grateful that our technicians and support staff have volunteered their time right alongside us for the opportunity to give the gift of sight to South Floridians,” says Dr. Gailitis.