Los Angeles County Optometric Society to Mobilize Help for Fire Victims and First Responders
For Immediate Release
January 13, 2025
Contact: Irina Yakubin, OD
Los Angeles County Optometric Society to Mobilize
Help for Fire Victims and First Responders
The Los Angeles County Optometric Society (LACOS) board, in coordination with the California Optometric Association, is mobilizing to help victims of the devastating fires that have affected residents of Los Angeles County, including the Palisades Fire. Efforts include:
Eyedrop Donations
LA County Optometric Society Board is asking for donations of eye drops, eye wash, contact lens solution, and contact lens cases to help individuals displaced by the fire and first responders facing high air pollution, a known ocular irritant.
Donations can be brought to your local fire station or sent to:
Dr. Corey Hodes, OD
Hodes Vision Optometry: 10922 1/2 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Dr. Ora Esfahani, OD
Dr. Richlin OD and Associates: 8907 Wilshire Blvd Floor 3, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Dr. Irina Yakubin, OD
OptiHealth Optometry (inside Montana Eyes): 718 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
The board is working on coordinating donations with Alcon, Oasis, Dry Eye Rescue, and other brands to help deliver drops to first responders and the Red Cross.
Resources for Local Eye Care Professionals and Patients
VSP Resources: We are coordinating with VSP to provide resources for doctors and patients. VSP members who have lost or broken eyewear or need eye care can call 800 877-7195; VSP network doctors can call 800 615 1883 to learn about available resources. For non-VSP patients, the Red Cross can help replace eyewear lost due to a disaster can call 1 800 733 2767.
More information is forthcoming and will be available online at lacos.net and distributed to LACOS members via email and via social media.
Donated supplies not distributed to first responders will be given to local evacuation shelters and otherwise distributed via community channels to help displaced individuals.
Temporary and Emergency Eye Care
The board is also working to coordinate with local optometrists and the American Red Cross to help establish temporary care for their patients as needed. This includes various organizations that connect volunteer doctors of optometry with relief centers to help triage ocular conditions.
Quote from the LACOS Board:
“Los Angeles Area eye doctors share in the grief our communities are experiencing as fires continue to devastate our region. We are moved by the commitment of first responders working relentlessly to end the suffering and loss. We are extending our support to these heroes and all those affected by the fires, and we are committed to being here to help our communities in any way we can.”
- Irina Yakubin, OD, Ora Esfahani, OD, Katy Wan, OD, Kathryn Parsa, OD, Amanda Hikin, OD, Barry Weissman, OD, Corey Hodes, OD, Katy Wan, OD, Tamami Candi Kimura, OD, Gary Polan, OD, Bradley Richlin, OD, Sharlene Gee, OD, Richard Hoffman, OD, Candi Kimura, OD, Esther Yang, OD, Sharlene Gee, OD, Mae Lae Louie, OD, Elizabeth Yeh, OD, Caroline Quan, OD, Myles Zakheim, OD, Steven Richlin, OD
Fire Weather Eye Safety
Everyone in the area must protect their eyes during the fires. Good practices include wearing glasses and protective eyewear, using copious amounts of artificial tears to lubricate the eyes, using eyewash and lid wipes to remove any soot, ash, or debris, using a cool compress to soothe irritation, and continuing to adhere to all prescription eye drops and medications unless otherwise advised by your doctor. When using multiple drops allow at least 5-10 minutes between eye drops to allow for absorption.