Released on: April 21, 2008, 9:05 am

Press Release Author: Hannah Lane/apt marketing & pr ltd

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: Clare Holland will be one of three UK optometrists in this
year's 'Mission for Vision' trip from 11-25 April. The programme sends out one team
annually to communities in need of eye care. This year they are travelling to the
town of Nebaj in Northern Guatemala; the first trip of its kind to Central America.


Press Release Body: Nebaj is situated 7,000 feet up in the Cuchamatan Mountains.
Here Clare will join the other team members; two other British optometrists and one
Dispensing optician along with four support helpers. She will be travelling to
Guatemala City via Houston before embarking on the eight-hour drive to Nebaj.

Clare will work closely with the rest of the team for two weeks in an 'eye camp,'
examining eyes, treating minor eye diseases and dispensing spectacles, collected by
the charity from airports in the UK. Without this essential care, local people
must walk for several days to reach a clinic in the city, as there is no other eye
care available in the region.

The team is expecting to treat approximately 450 people every day. It is thought
that they will witness many people's vision affected by smoke, as all cooking in
Guatemalan homes is undertaken in the main living area. They also expect to see a
high rate of cataracts due to the mountains' high altitude, which causes greater
exposure to UV radiation. During the trip, the team will be examining many
children's eyes. Clare hopes she will be particularly useful here as her practice
(Keith Holland & Associates) specialises in eye care for children.

Clare comments, "I am very excited about the trip, never having travelled to this
part of the world before or worked in local clinics like this"


Web Site: http://www.keithholland.co.uk/

Contact Details: Hannah Lane
account executive
apt marketing & pr
01242 250692
hannah@aptmarketing.co.uk