You can see the fingers on your hand only when they're barely an inch from your face. The major differences in your vision reflect daylight and darkness. Reading is out of the question. Learning and education? Next to impossible.

Seeing Clearly

At the International Special Olympics, the 22-year-old Icelandic woman stood in line for the vision screening. Although nearsighted to the point of apparent blindness, she could still perceive light and wanted to see if the test showed any potential for better sight. "Imagine my surprise when I realized this young woman's nearsightedness was at minus-20, ten times worse than average," says Donald Jarnagin, O.D. "And imagine her surprise when we discovered that her vision could be corrected enough so the world around her was no longer in a fog. She was amazed to see leaves, trees, everything separate and clear."

This young woman found herself at the Special Olympics because her mental development was at least partially impaired by her blurred vision. "That's one of the reasons I volunteer with the American Optometric Association's Open Eyes sports vision program," says Jarnagin. "We'll see as many as three hundred people a day at the state games for comprehensive eye exams, and we send their prescriptions for spectacles and sports goggles to a local optical lab that donates the lenses and frames. It's so important to help young and challenged people achieve as much as they can."

In addition to volunteering with Special Olympics and maintaining a private optometry practice for 37 years, Jarnagin is part of the effort to establish the Arizona College of Optometry (AZCOPT, opening fall 2009) at Midwestern University's Glendale, Arizona campus. "After Dr. Goeppinger joined the Glendale Rotary Club, she and I talked about the MWU Board's plans to establish an optometry program, and we're now making it a reality," says Jarnagin. "I want to have an impact on the profession and educate more optometrists who can serve low-income, diabetic, and underserved populations, especially those without health insurance."

"I want to educate more optometrists who can serve low-income, diabetic, and underserved populations, especially those without health insurance."
— Donald Jarnagin, O.D., Glendale

Coming Full Circle

After receiving his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degrees at Southern California College of Optometry, Jarnagin — a Phoenix native — returned to the city and went into practice with the optometrist who had provided his own vision care throughout his growing years. Within six years, Jarnagin became a full partner and took over the group practice twenty years later at his partner's retirement. When the opportunity at Midwestern University appeared, he and his staff moved the entire practice to the MWU Clinic, located near the new College of Dental Medicine on Midwestern's Glendale campus.

"Midwestern's multidisciplinary approach to health care education is exactly right," says Jarnagin. "Our students interact with the other health professions on campus and learn the team approach to health care. Community-based clinics are the key to new and effective treatment for patients. MWU students rotate through the various practice areas, so they become comfortable with that kind of collaboration. Getting into rotations early in their educational career also provides valuable experience."

Medical Mission to Guatemala

As part of his community service commitment, Jarnagin works with the Glendale (AZ) Rotary Club on MWU/DOCARE multidisciplinary medical missions to Guatemala that also use thousands of pairs of glasses donated by local Lions Clubs. "In the small towns in Guatemala, we see mostly Mayan populations — children and adults with vision and medical eye problems," says Jarnagin. "This population faces severe discrimination and lack of services. We'll use 8,000 to 10,000 pairs of glasses in the two weeks of our mission, and we find an immediate reaction to vision correction. These children can now see the chalkboard clearly, which also improves their reading ability, so they have better opportunities in school and beyond. The older people need reading glasses so they can continue to do the beautiful handwork that provides their income."

First-Class Clinic

Although he and his office staff are still adjusting to the size of a large institution, Jarnagin enjoys interacting with the other health care professionals at MWU and the opportunity to build a program from the ground up. "Midwestern is setting up a first-class clinic, providing excellent resources and new equipment that will give students the best optometry education possible. It's a great place, where everyone is open, positive, and helpful."