Eye Clinic Of Texas Donates Eyeglasses For Local Soldier's Cause In Afghanistan

League City, Texas – The Eye Clinic of Texas teamed with eyewear vendor The Safilo Group to present 500 pairs of eyeglass frames today to a local soldier who is participating in an effort to provide optical care to the children of Afghanistan.

Upon reading a recent article in Freedom Watch, a military publication, doctors at The Eye Clinic of Texas learned their former employee, Sgt. Caleb Wines, 312th Medical Logistics Detachment optical laboratory specialist, was participating in Cooperative Medical Assistance (CMA) missions throughout Afghanistan, outfitting people with eyeglasses. He reported the strong need to secure smaller frames to treat the children.

Alan Fradkin, ophthalmologist for The Eye Clinic of Texas, approached one of the clinic’s main vendors, The Safilo Group, which generously agreed to provide 500 pairs of frames to help with Wines’ mission.

“Caleb is a dedicated employee and it was no surprise that he is making tremendous strides in optical care in Afghanistan,” Fradkin said. “We wanted to do what we could to support his mission and greatly appreciate The Safilo Group answering our call to supply the much needed frames.”

Wines accepted the donation today during an appearance at Ferguson Elementary. Second grade students drew pictures and wrote notes, which will be included in the package and distributed by Wines to the Afghan children upon his return.

“I am always amazed by the generosity of my fellow Americans to help the less fortunate,” Wines said. “This donation will help our cause and the Afghan people more than I can express.”

Wines, who is currently back in the U.S. for a short visit, worked as an optician at The Eye Clinic of Texas while attending Texas A&M University in Galveston. He left for Afghanistan in May 2004, and will return in less than two weeks. Upon arrival overseas, future CMA missions will be planned, where Wines will perform eye exams on the Afghan children and then custom cut the lenses to fit the donated frames based on individual needs.

“Caleb is taking the knowledge and skills he acquired in school, as well as from our clinic, and putting them to use amongst those most in need,” Fradkin said. “He is an inspiration to us all and we are so proud of him.”

The Safilo Group is the world’s second largest wholesale eyewear producer and worldwide leader in the premium eyewear market segment in terms of net sales and units sold. The company has been designing, manufacturing and distributing high quality eyewear products worldwide, including prescription frames, sunglasses frames and lenses, sports goggles and other accessories, since 1934.

Founded in 1972, The Eye Clinic of Texas offers the latest in laser vision correction surgery, as well as a full range of other eye needs at three locations throughout Galveston County: League City, Galveston and Texas City. For more information, call (800) 423-3937 or visit www.ecot.com.

.