Optometrist Warren Riegel and his wife, Mary Lou, participate in the Medical Missionary International program that allows them to travel to third-world countries and offer eye care to those in need.
Warren and Mary Lou are only a few of the many individuals that are intricately involved in the organization.
Warren said that they have traveled to Columbia, El Salvador, Peru and Bolivia. He said this year alone they have already visited Columbia, El Salvador and Bolivia.
Recently, a group from the West End Johnstown Lions Club visited Ridgway to participate in an eye glass collection that is associated with MMI and the Riegels.
Warren said that eye care is a program that the Lions are closely involved in and this group took time to help sort the eye glasses so they can then be transported to the needy. Warren says that on his endeavors he takes as many eye glasses as possible, but also many more get shipped.
Warren’s mission on each visit is to make permanent clinics in these countries. Warren says that the Dominican Republic and Medamoralis offer residency programs for Ophthalmology. Those residents then travel home to their countries and perform their skills.
“We hope to have 500 clinics by 2050,” said Warren.
Mary Lou says that she and her husband joined the organization because a friend talk to them about the program and said Warren would enjoy it. Mary Lou says that they get much more than enjoyment from their journeys.
“When you go and see the good that can be done, you just keep going back,” said Mary Lou.
Warren has been involved for 30 years while Mary Lou has participated for 19 years due to family engagements.
When MMI is on missions, they go with two different groups that include optomologists, opticians, nurses and optometrists. An optomologist is a surgeon of the eye. An optician is one who works with spectacles and an optometrist exams eyes.
Mary Lou says the group is usually even equipped with someone who fits artificial eyes. Along with the proper technicians, the group is fully equipped with sterile equipment. MMI does surgeries and  work out of the local hospitals, which are all up to code and properly equipped.
According to Mary Lou, the third-world countries do have eye care, but it is reserved for the wealthy because it is too expensive for many residents.
“We are there for the people who can’t afford surgery or glasses,” Mary Lou said. “We don’t compete with the eye physicians there because they service those who can pay, but we service those who cannot pay.”
There is no technical screening process for MMI services, according to Mary Lou.
“Nobody is turned away,” said Mary Lou. “Many people cannot afford it. There are a lot of poor people left in the world, unfortunately.”
MMI works in two-week increments when they are on a mission. During these two weeks, MMI sees a minimum of 4,000 people. They don’t keep track Mary Lou said, and it always depends on the size of the group of caregivers.
Mary Lou said that many people don’t have or have ever had eye glasses, but many of them don’t read. She says that many of these people work to feed their families, and they need to be equipped with good vision to see their crops and animals.
Mary Lou noted that eye glass collections are in various locations, and the Lions club is usually doing a collection. She notes that if anyone has unused or damaged prescription eye glasses to please donate to collection sites to offer sight to someone who may have never seen clearly before.