At his office on Park Hill Drive, Dr. Richard Blue and his staff began giving the gift of corrected vision with laser treatment to 11 past and present emergency responders and armed service members.
One of them was Hall County firefighter and paramedic Chris Ammons; he's had vision problems while fighting fires.
"I'm going to be able to see," Ammons said."I've been wearing glasses since I was six and I got contacts when I was eight; without my contacts or glasses I'm legally blind."
Ammons added, "I've had contacts dry up in my eyes, I've had them fall out in house fires. I've had my glasses fall down in my mask while fighting a fire and had them fall off when I've been working on patients."
Ammons said he'd have 2015 vision - better than perfect - after the laser surgery.
Dr. Blue said he would devote the entire day at his office to his 11 9/11 remembrance patients. He normally treats up to 30 patients a day with his high tech bladeless IntraLase bi-lateral Custom Wavefront LASIK procedure.
Thursday's patients, winners in the "Eyes on Our Heroes" contest originated by Blue and his staff, received the treatment plus post-operative exams for a year free of charge.
Christina Guldensupp of Winder,formerly with the Navy, said better vision was something she had promised herself when she could afford it. SHe was among those chosen as an 'Eyes on Our Heroes' contest winner.
"The fact that they're doing this, especially on this day, is moving, especially for me," she said.
The procedure's retail value for both eyes is $4,900.
"The men and women who dedicate their lives to public service carry such a heavy load and responsibility that they shouldn't have the additional burden of poor vision and corrective lenses," Dr. Blue said.
"They're the most dramatic example of how this can improve someone's life."
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http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/9/213191