Here's Looking at You

Lt. Col. Judy Rattan, 86th Medical Group optometry flight commander, performs a routine eye exam at the Optometry Clinic, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 12, 2012. Members of the Ramstein Optometry Clinic key in on their patient’s needs, ensuring they receive the right care. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)

Here's Looking at You

Staff Sgt. Shirley Taylor, 86th Medical Group optometry fight technician, takes a photo of a patients eye at the Optometry Clinic Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 12 2012. Members of the Ramstein Optometry Clinic key in on their patient’s needs, ensuring they receive the right care. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)

Here's Looking at You

Staff Sgt. Shirley Taylor 86th Medical Group aerospace optometry technician, takes a photo of a patient's eye at the Optometry Clinic Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 12, 2012. Members of the Ramstein Optometry Clinic key in on their patient’s needs, ensuring they receive the right care. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)

Here's Looking at You

Staff Sgt. Shirley Taylor, 86th Medical Group aerospace optometry technician, graphs an image of a patients eye at the Ramstein Clinic Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 12, 2012. Members of the Ramstein Optometry Clinic key in on their patient’s needs, ensuring they receive the right care. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)

Here's looking at you

Published Sept. 18, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Trevor Rhynes
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Which looks better? One, or Two.

This is a question asked to many of the patients who visit the Ramstein Optometry Clinic.

"We see an average of 50 patients a day," said Lt. Col. Judy Rattan Optometry flight commander.
"Everyone from five years old and up can be seen by one of our four doctors any day."

Patients either set up their own appointments through 479-CARE, or are referred by their family physician for an optometry appointment, Rattan said.

The doctors who work in U.S. Air Forces in Europe's biggest optometry clinic specialize in multiple services for their patients.

"We can handle all types of appointments here," Rattan said. "Our doctors do anything from the routine eye exam, to diagnosing and treating diseases, retraining physicals, school screenings and refractive surgery."

Because of the variety of services offered, members of the Ramstein Optometry Clinic key in on their patients needs, ensuring they receive the right care.

"Every patient is different and has different needs," said Master Sgt. Kelli Senker, Optometry flight chief. "We get to know our patients during their screening prior to seeing the doctor."

Patient care starts from the time they're scheduled for their appointment, through the time glasses are adjusted after they arrive.

With so many different things going on during the appointment process, Senker and the rest of the clinic staff try to ensure the best experience possible for patients.

"We are a team here and any one of us is able to pick up where the last left off," she said. "It's a smooth operation here."

At the end of the day, the optometry staff takes pride in the customer service they provide.

"When you ask any of the technicians here what their favorite part of the job is, the consensus is that we all love the interaction with our patients," Senker said.

The Optometry Clinic keeps about 100 eyes focused on the mission daily, all with a simple question.