FLORENCE – Mercy Medicine Clinic will be hosting a free eye screening for diabetics on Wednesday April 9 beginning at 8:30 a.m., which is being sponsored by the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation.

People from across the Pee Dee and throughout South Carolina are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to determine whether or not they are at risk for having eye diseases resulting from diabetes. That’s because retinal screenings have been demonstrated to be most effective at revealing damage than can be inflicted upon the eyes by diabetes, as well as determining those who are prone to getting it.

One of these warning signs is a condition known as diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that can progressively worsen, severely impairing vision and even cause eventual blindness. A retinal screening has the potential of helping individuals avoid such consequences by catching it early before it can gain a foothold.

Unfortunately, that’s not always possible for the many indigent and working poor individuals who lack any form of health insurance and, more often than not, allow such serious conditions as diabetes to proliferate beyond the point of no return.

The goal of Mercy Medicine is to remedy this condition through the provision of a rigorous retinal pre-screening process that has the capability of catching the early onset of such eye diseases before they can become chronic and result in other debilitating conditions.

The pain-free screening process, which will be held at Mercy Medicine Clinic, takes less than an hour to complete. Doctors and nurses will be available to discuss details regarding diabetic eye changes in patients. Light refreshments will also be served during the event.

The diabetic eye screening is the result of a $10,000 grant provided by the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation. It is the first grant to be provided by this relatively new foundation, which serves the counties of the Pee Dee. Another key benefactor that has been instrumental in the creation and development of Mercy Medicine Clinic’s retinal clinic is the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation, which has provided funding since 2003. Others are McLeod Regional Medical Center, Carolinas Hospital System, Stokes Regional Eye Center, Columbia Eye Clinic, United Way of Florence County, Aiken Foundation, the Junior League of Florence, Progress Energy, Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, local churches and private contributors.

Mercy Medicine Clinic, which was established in 1994, is a free Christian medical clinic that serves the indigent and working poor of Florence and Dillon counties. It is located at 514-E South Dargan St. across from the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library.

In addition to primary medical care, Mercy also features free dental and retinal clinics, as well as a pharmacy. For more information about the free screening, as well as the clinic, call (843) 667-9947.