WASHINGTON, July 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Safe Eyes America (SEA), a
non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the delivery of the
highest quality medical and surgical eye care to the American
public is proud to announce the addition of a new member to its
Board of Directors - Vicki Rutledge.
Ms. Rutledge a proud member of the Choctaw Nation resides in
Hugo, Oklahoma. She first learned
of Safe Eyes America from her ophthalmologist, a glaucoma eye
specialist at the renowned Dean McGee Eye Institute, Oklahoma City.
Unfortunately, Ms. Rutledge was blinded in her right eye from a
laser eye surgical procedure performed by an Oklahoma optometrist. Oklahoma is one of the few states in the
country that allows optometrists to preform laser eye surgery
without completing the years of additional medical education and
surgical training currently required of ophthalmologists – medical
eye surgeons.
Ms. Rutledge said: "I'm looking forward to working with Safe
Eyes America. My connection with SEA represents an opportunity for
me to find a "silver lining" after my eyesight was negligently
taken from me. The opportunity to spread awareness and education on
vision issues to help others is so important to me."
For example, Ms. Rutledge recently through Safe Eyes America
became aware of a dangerous New
Hampshire eye surgery bill (SB 440). This bill, if enacted,
would have allowed optometrists to perform laser eye surgery in the
Granite State. Upon learning of this
dangerous eye surgery bill, Ms. Rutledge testified before the
New Hampshire state legislature
regarding the dangers to eye patients like herself associated with
SB 440. Thanks in part to Ms. Rutledge's testimony, the bill did
not pass preserving New Hampshire
eye surgery standards.
About Safe Eyes America
Safe Eyes America is a 501(c) 4 non-profit organization
dedicated to promoting the delivery of the highest quality medical
and surgical eye care to the American
public. SafeEyesAmerica.org.
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SOURCE Safe Eyes America