Paul has performed the surgeries since 2012, which help him keep his medical skills up-to-date while he serves voters in Washington, D.C. Most of the surgeries remove cataracts and implant lenses for patients who don't have insurance. However, this is the first time the two have teamed up for the surgeries at Bowers' new facility, Innovative Ophthalmology on Lone Oak Road. It opened in March of this year.
Bowers said this round of surgeries are being done through a program called "Surgery on Sundays," which has offices in Lexington and Louisville. Paul said hospitals and facilities in those cities typically don't work on Sunday, so doctors and nurses volunteer their time for the program. He thanked Dr. Bowers for volunteering her time and facility on a Wednesday, so he could participate.
When asked how it feels to be able to do these surgeries, Bowers said, "I enjoy what I do all day, every day, but when you're able to do this for somebody who you know would never be able to get it otherwise, it's very, very, rewarding. I think after we finish today, between the two of us, it will be 50 surgeries that we've done over the past few years. To know that you just helped that many people get back into life and be able to work again and drive again, it's very rewarding."
Dr. Paul said, "The amazing thing also about eye surgery is how immediate it is. Sometimes you have something done and you go through pain for days and days and maybe even weeks until you're better. This, most people can sit up and see better, so it's a pretty amazing thing, so I've always been exicited about doing eye surgery, whether it's for free or not, because it's so cool to have people sit up and say, 'I can see again, I can see again'"
Paul said that while he's trying to do something important in Washington, he misses his ophthalmology practice and the chance to use his years of training to help people see better.
"I've come here once or twice a year, sometimes we do a mission trip overseas. We've been to Haiti and to Guatemala. We went to Trinidad this year but I got sick and couldn't go, so the team went without me this year. But, I really enjoy it and it's good for me to go back to my roots of what I spent many years training to do."
The senator was the keynote speaker at the Paducah Rotary Club's luncheon (see link to related article). He also participated in events in four western Kentucky cities on Tuesday, and will visit three cities more on Thursday.
On the Net:
Rand Paul Speaks at Rotary Club Luncheon
