The Day I Didn't Know I needed

I run my own practice, have two kids, and enjoy a full life. But even when you love what you do, it's easy to get caught up in the rhythm of patients, charts, schedules, family, and all the things competing for your attention. When life already feels busy, it's easy to convince yourself there's no room for anything more.

So, when I signed up to volunteer at another VSP Eyes of Hope event, I wondered how I would fit it in. What I didn't realize was how much I needed that day, too.

VSP Eyes of Hope brought a fully equipped mobile clinic to an elementary school, providing eye care to children who might not otherwise have easy access to it. The patients I saw were between six and 12 years old, and while we checked vision and eye health, we also shared stories, questions, high-fives, and plenty of opinions about which glasses looked best.

Underneath all the fun was something I know to be true: kids don't always know what they're not seeing. They simply adapt to the world as they experience it.

This event partnered with the Oakland Literacy Coalition, making the day even more meaningful. Along with an eye exam and glasses when needed, every child could choose two new books to take home.

The connection between vision and learning felt immediate. We weren't simply helping children see more clearly. We were helping make classrooms, books, sports, and everyday experiences more accessible.

Driving home, I found myself thinking less about the time I had given and more about what that time had made possible. Stepping outside your routine reconnects you with the impact of what we do as eye doctors and how meaningful an eye exam can be.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was realizing that volunteering didn't take something away from an already full week. As Eye See It, it gave something back.

To fellow eye doctors who have considered volunteering but worry about finding the time: I understand. But sometimes you just need one day. You may be surprised by how much you take home with you.