A 20/20 vision for NMI

One year after the establishment of the Hardt Eye Clinic, the facility’s role in providing health care to the community grows as the number of clients visiting its friendly doctors continues to increase.

“We’re busier than we anticipated,” said Dr. Donald Hardt, who co-owns the clinic with his brother, Dr. David Hardt, the first eye doctor to have lived on Saipan.

The clinic opened its doors on Beach Road, Chalan Laulau on Feb. 2, 2004, investing some $300,000 for its state-of-the-art equipment. Since then, it has grown to a clinic with a staff of 10.

When the Hardt brothers decided to put up the clinic, there was trepidation on their part amid an unstable economy, admitted Donald Hardt. But the business has grown far beyond their modest expectations.

“Our big concern here is [the vision of those with] diabetes and glaucoma,” said Donald Hardt, who had worked for several years at California’s Eye Life Institute before he moved to Saipan. “Hundreds of people are blind in the CNMI due to diabetes.”

With the high number of diabetes among Pacific islanders, the threat of blindness among the local populace increases.

He also said hundreds of local residents are suffering from glaucoma, resulting in damaged eye nerves and eventually, vision loss.

“It’s devastating for people,” he said. “When it’s found early, we can control it [blindness].”

Hardt urged diabetes patients to visit the eye clinic at least once a year, or even more often when vision problems are detected. For glaucoma patients, they should visit the clinic at least three times a year, he said.

He also advised those who do not have eye problems to visit the clinic at least once a year if they are 40 years old and over, or at least once every two years if they are younger.

Hardt also expressed concern for children, saying that they should have their vision checked before going to school. Children with vision problems often have reading problems resulting in diminished confidence in their abilities, he said.

“A lot of them are okay, but a lot of them have vision problems,” he said. He said the schools are welcome to have their students screened for eye problems. “We’re here to help.”

The clinic prides itself with one of the most modern equipment on the islands. It can also make eyeglasses, and clients may have them right away on the same day.

For more information, call the clinic at (670) 235-2030.