Local Ophthalmologist Honored For Repairing Vision Of Child In Need

Galveston, Texas - Prevent Blindness Texas recently honored local ophthalmologist, Allan H. Fradkin, M.D., for his efforts in correcting a severe visual defect for a Texas City child in need.

Fradkin recently received a distinguished service award from Prevent Blindness Texas for waiving his fee to perform strabismus surgery on 10-year-old Ashley McGinness. Strabismus is a visual defect in which the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions. McGinness suffered from esotropia, a common form of strabismus where the eye turns inward, causing loss of peripheral vision.

"Strabismus is easily corrected through eye surgery, but McGinness' insurance company initially considered the procedure to be cosmetic and refused funding," said Connie Shaut, executive director of Prevent Blindness of Texas Gulf Coast Branch. "That's when an employee at Ashley's school approached our organization for assistance."

Jan Lloyd, an attendance clerk at Roosevelt Wilson Elementary in Texas City, has known McGinness since she was in first grade. "Ashley is a very intelligent little girl, and the fact that kids were calling her names because of her eye broke my heart," Lloyd said. "This is America, and no child should be without medical care."

At the suggestion of a friend, Lloyd contacted Shaut, who began immediately working on the situation. Based on his expertise in pediatric ophthalmology, Shaut sent Fradkin a letter explaining the girl's situation to see if there was anything he could do to help. After thoroughly reviewing the case, Fradkin agreed to perform the procedure at no cost to the family.

"The physical and emotional advantages of this surgery were vital to Ashley's future," Fradkin said. "The cosmetic change is merely an added bonus for her as she interacts with her peers and eventually gets out into the working world."

On July 24, Fradkin performed the delicate surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). He adjusted the muscle tension in McGinness' impaired eye, thereby allowing it to move outward. McGinness made a full recovery and is now enjoying stronger vision.

"Ashley is doing great, and her demeanor is up," Lloyd said. "The entire procedure was extremely successful."

Founded in 1980, Prevent Blindness Texas/Gulf Coast Branch is a voluntary health agency that provides complete sight saving programs, including free glaucoma screenings and vision screenings at area schools.

Specializing in cataract surgery and pediatric ophthalmology, Fradkin is an ophthalmologist with The Eye Clinic of Texas, which has locations in Galveston, League City and Texas City.

.