With there second annual ‘PEG Cares Day’ the Princeton Eye Group helped local residents in need of eye care.
On March 4, local residents without insurance were treated at the Princeton Eye Group’s Princeton office on 419 N Harrison St., according to Dr. Samuel Liu, a PEG ophthalmology surgeon.
The annual event is the brainchild of Katerina Liu, a Rutgers University student and daughter of Liu.
“When I discussed the possibility of Katerina joining me on an international surgical mission, she instead suggested that there are many patients who live locally who are in need of charity care,” said Liu. “So, Katerina came up with the idea of providing compassionate care for local patients in need. She organized and set up PEG Cares Day for the first time last year, and we are continuing this today.”
According to Katerina, the patients were referred by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Clinic at the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.
“Our goal is to treat those who do not have health insurance or the ability to pay. The day was staffed by volunteer employees of Princeton Eye Group, who provided those in need with eye exams at no cost,” Katerina said.
She said following a workup by volunteer technicians, all patients received a consultation with Dr. Liu.
“Those requiring glasses were referred to the Optical Shoppe and offered glasses for as little as $25 a pair, with payment plans spread out without interest so as not to burden the patient,” Katerina said.
“This was our second of what is sure to be many PEG Cares Days,” Liu said. “Service is part of our DNA, whether it is traveling with Doctors Without Borders, or volunteering time at local clinics and schools, all of our partners and staff believe in the importance of giving back to our community.”
He said it is rewarding to help people in the community who do not have access to eye care.
“I am so proud of my dad and the team at PEG. The gratitude expressed by the patients and the looks on their faces and those of their family members makes it all worthwhile to say the least,” Katerina said.
