Photographs by William Taufic.
Organization
AmeriCares, Eye Care for the Underprivileged
Inspiration
Dr. Arnold Pearlstone, an ophthalmologist, has been volunteering “all my life,” he says. “Even during my residency, I volunteered at clinics in New York. When I came out of the Navy, I volunteered at a cerebral palsy clinic in Bridgeport.”
In 1992, Dr. Pearlstone and his wife began traveling to Jamaica to establish a clinic there. “The area was very, very poor. The conditions were horrendous,” he says. “My wife and I both felt strongly that we were lucky to make a good living and help people, but there were a lot of people we couldn’t help and we wanted to. She was just as instrumental as I in setting this up.”
Since retiring, Dr. Pearlstone has been volunteering weekly at AmeriCares Free Clinics. “I love seeing the patients and taking care of them, and the people who work at the clinics are wonderful,” he says. “It’s been great for me. I’m doing something worthwhile.”
Courage in Action
The Pearlstones set up Eye Care for the Underprivileged, and through that foundation they were able to run the clinic in Jamaica and donate all the necessary equipment to establish AmeriCares Free Clinics’ ophthalmology program in Bridgeport, Norwalk, Danbury and Stamford. Dr. Pearlstone volunteers at all four sites.
“Dr. Pearlstone has volunteered more than 700 hours and screened over 1,300 free clinic patients for cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, providing $330,000 worth of free medical care for our neighbors in need,” says Karen Gottlieb, AmeriCares executive director.
The Pearlstones faced many obstacles in Jamaica. On their first trip, the microscope purchased for Dr. Pearlstone was stolen before he even arrived to the hospital. But they persevered, built and supplied a clinic, and changed many lives. “People would come in basically blind from cataracts,” says Dr. Pearlstone. “We saw over 3,000 patients and operated on 850 in my time.”
Hopes & Dreams
Dr. Pearlstone still funds the clinic in Jamaica through his foundation but has found someone else to run it. “I’m not exactly young.” he says. “When I can’t work at the AmeriCares clinics anymore, I hope someone will take over. Many people don’t have eye-care coverage. It’s really a valuable service.”