Conexus optometrist describes ‘wow’ moment when a child see clearly

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The 8News partnership with Conexus for its annual Gift of Light campaign has entered week two, and the work is never done. Every day, children in local schools receive free eye exams and free glasses as needed.

In order for Conexus to accomplish its mission, there are many moving parts at work, with one of those key pieces being optometrists.

StormTracker8 Meteorologist Matt DiNardo spoke with Dr. Robbie Robinson, an optometrist who ran his own practice in Chesterfield County for over 40 years.

As his career began to wind down, Robinson said he decided to continue assisting the community through Conexus at Walnut Hill Elementary School, the very place he began his own early childhood education.

"Walking down the halls was a very sympathetic moment," Robinson said. "You look around and you look at all the little faces, and it's, you know, suddenly it's 1968 all over again, and you can bring in, you know, you tear up a little bit."

Every optometrist experiences that "wow" moment when a child sees clearly through new lenses, especially when working with children who are seen through Conexus.

Robinson described one of his favorite moments when a child saw her lunchroom clearly through trial lenses.

"I saw a little girl who was a negative five, myopic five, and had never had glasses before, which means she couldn't see the kid across the lunch table clearly," Robinson said. "And when I let her hold the little trial lenses and look around, and we were right across the lunchroom. So we opened the door to the lunchroom and she looked around and, it was just great."

Conexus is always looking for help from optometrists who can donate a few hours of their time -- either weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Every little bit helps.

Tim Gresham, President and CEO of Conexus, said he has seen optometrists in each life stage make a significant difference in children's lives through their work for Conexus.

"We have some younger doctors who love to see a difference being made in the child's life," Gresham said. "And we have other doctors that are near the retirement part of their life, and they're maybe slowing down a little bit, but they want to give back and see that beautiful moment when a child can see clearly that has never really seen clearly before."

You can help Conexus by donating to the Gift of Light campaign. Your donation will help a child see a brighter future.