Meet Frank Parrino: A Project Vision success story (in his own words)

“I was first diagnosed with wet macular degeneration in April of 2001 at the age of 46. A retina doctor on the mainland at that time used a laser a couple of times and said there was little else that could be done for me – to just protect and take care of my unaffected eye.

“In September of 2009, Project VISION brought the ‘Vision Van’ to Molokai, where my wife and I have resided for four years. Doctors with most any specialty are rare on Molokai, so this was an opportunity for us to get screened. The volunteers and staff on the Project VISION were wonderful, and we were in and out in a very short time. I noted on the paperwork that day that I was well aware of my wet AMD in my left eye and was mostly doing this screening to reassure me of my unaffected right eye.

“A few weeks later, Retina Institute of Hawaii called me back and spent a great deal of time with me on the phone and told me that huge advances had been made in the treatment of wet AMD in the last 10 years, and they were very optimistic that doctors there at RIH could help me.

“My first visit was in early December 2009, where I was put through a battery of diagnostic tests and met Dr. Eugene Ng, who treated me that very same day. Being from Molokai, it can be troublesome making appointments, coordinating airline reservations and returning to our island the same day. Again, Dr. Ng and staff worked with me to make some exceptions to their normal procedures to accommodate me. What an interesting concept…working with the patient to make my life less stressful and less costly.

“I’ve since had two additional treatments, and I am noticing some improvement! Dr. Ng told me he was nearly positive he could stop the progress of the wet AMD and was very confident he might be able to actually reverse it and restore at least some of my vision. It seems he might be correct!

“In closing, I know that if Project VISION had not come to Molokai, I would have never sought help. I would have been satisfied to have one eye. I was ignorant enough to think that just because there was no treatment 10 years ago that nothing had changed. Project VISION offered me the chance to be screened at no cost in a wonderful retrofitted RV. Because of Project Vision and the Vision Van (and the Lions Club here on Molokai), I have a good chance to reverse some of the effects of my wet AMD condition and improve my vision. I am very grateful for this opportunity. Mahalo nui loa.”