How ODs are helping with Los Angeles wildfire cleanup

Although wildfires in the Los Angeles area have been tamed, aid efforts are still needed for Californians. Air pollutants are estimated to continue to affect the health of locals. Wildfire smoke has been proven to harm cardiovascular and respiratory systems for the long term.¹

Several optometric societies and national organizations are continuing their relief efforts and are urging ODs to get involved. Arti Shah, OD, FAAO, is working with California Optometric Association (COA) and the Los Angeles County Optometric Society (LACOS) to help facilitate eye drop donations and organize emergency eye care. Shah said that local ODs have found numerous ways to help by donating their time and energy with the American Red Cross, among other organizations.

"I'm part of the COA, which trickles down to LACOS, and there are several ODs in the area that are collecting donations, and these donations can be eye drops, saline washes, contact lens solutions, contact lens cases," Shah said. "And a lot of these donations are coming from individual ODs as well as different industry partners. So any donations that are available related to eye care are being accepted through our LACOS members, as well as I have colleagues who are also just volunteering their time with the fire department and with the Red Cross. So it's really amazing to see how everyone is just pulling together during this time to just help support the community."

LACOS is still directing donations to the American Red Cross and AOA Foundation Optometry Cares to help with wildfire cleanup.² For ODs looking to help patients, CooperVision and Alcon have patient relief request forms for practitioners. Kent J. Nozaki, OD, details his involvement in temporary clinics and other aid opportunities.

"The Power of Sight Foundation, I've been working with them recently. I also have been working for close to 10 years with a Medical Missions Adventure program that is also a faith based nonprofit, and so we're able to go to people who are in need, not just when a emergency comes up," Nozaki said. "Because, yes, it was really important that we helped the people in the fires or the Palisades fire, which is what we did with VSP. But I also participated in a clinic a week and a half before that for the Eaton fire. And there's just need all over the place.

"I should mention that the Los Angeles County Optometric Society, they were able to round up a lot of the optometrists that were at this particular clinic. But I know that if you contact your own society, that they will also have areas that you can help volunteer in."

References:

1. Masters J. Indirect death toll from the L.A. fires may end up in the thousands. Yale Climate Connections. January 16, 2025. Accessed March 7, 2025. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/01/indirect-death-toll-from-the-l-a-fires-may-end-up-in-the-thousands/

2. Our hearts go out to those who are affected by the fires. Los Angelos County Optometric Society. Accessed March 7, 2025. https://www.lacos.net/lacos-la-fire-resource