LIHUE — Today is the last day of a free dental clinic, but organizer Dr. Janie Yoo of the Kauai Eye Institute announced a free vision screening event on Thursday.
Yoo was helping at the free dental clinic presented by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, both Kapaa and Lawai locations, with her husband, Dr. Paul Yoo, a dentist.
“We’s been quite busy,” said Bronson Pactanac, the dental clinic coordinator. “We had five dentists, including Dr. Paul Yoo, provide some $24,000 in dental service on Friday. We had two more dentists fly in from Oahu on Sunday, so now we are up to seven dentists heading into the final day of the dental clinic.”
People needing dental work such as cleaning, extractions, or fillings can take advantage of the free dental service today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a first come, first serve basis at the Kauai Eye Institute office, located at the back entrance to the former Kukui Grove Cinema building. There are no requirements for insurance, identification or proof of immigration status.
“I’m here for my second round of treatment,” said a patient whose identity is protected by medical privacy. “I came on Friday, and they did a fabulous job on my teeth. I do have one that was knocked out because it was rotten, and the doctor who can provide me a flipper is here today so I came back.”
Pactanac said the clinic served more than 40 patients on Friday.
“Prayer makes a difference,” he said. “A lot of patients commented on the quality of work being performed by the volunteers, and having prayer makes them feel better.”
Janie Yoo, who was helping translate at the dental clinic, said the free vision testing event also works in a similar manner.
“Dr. Kaiea Iwasaki (he’s a local boy) will be handling the free eye exams,” she said. “The difference between the Eye Institute and Tropic Care Kauai is that we can’t grind the glasses so customers can have glasses on a quick turnaround.”
She said patients can opt to purchase glasses from their range of offerings, or opt for a single-vision pair using the limited supply of frames they have for a reasonable $50 for a pair of glasses.
The free eye exams are on the same format as the free dental clinic, requiring no insurance, IDs or proof of immigration status.
“Service is on a first come, first serve basis between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Yoo said. “We want the staff to get an idea of what a free clinic is like because when the free dental clinic returns, the Eye Institute of Kauai wants to work with them.”
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
