Asian Eye President Benjamin K. Liboro (2nd from left) and PNB President Reynaldo Maclang (3rd from left) signed the agreement. Witnessing the event are Asian Eye Vice President and General Manager Alwin S. Sta. Rosa (left) and PNB First Senior Vice President Benjamin Oliva.Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their loved ones can now enjoy easy access to high quality eye care and treatment in the Philippines at special rates.

This good news follows the signing of an agreement between Lopez-managed Asian Eye Institute (Asian Eye) and the Philippine National Bank (PNB) to implement the OFW Family Eye Care Program.

Under the agreement, Asian Eye offers nine eye care packages designed to address the common needs of OFW families, including children and adults, as well as diabetics and seafarers.

The Asian Eye services in the OFW program include a comprehensive eye checkup, conventional cataract surgery, and a bladeless LASIK surgery package.

The comprehensive eye checkup examines not only the quality of vision but also the condition of the structures of the eye to see any underlying diseases. The conventional cataract surgery comes with regular intraocular lens to improve vision of the patients; while the LASIK surgery package eliminates or reduces the need for eyeglasses, contact lenses or reading glasses.

Asian Eye has also prepared easy-to-follow steps to facilitate access to the special services. An OFW or immediate family member first will have to decide on the needed Asian Eye service. Then he or she can set an appointment through Asian Eye’s website <http://www.asianeyeinstitute.com>, email <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. > or Facebook account <www.facebook.com/asianeyeinstitute>.

Upon confirmation of a schedule, an OFW can deposit payment at the nearest PNB remittance center. Considered one of the country’s biggest banks, PNB operates 106 branches worldwide and 95 authorized remittance agents.

A family member who avails himself or herself of the eye checkup or treatment simply has to present a copy of the remittance receipt to a preferred Asian Eye clinic.

A world-class ambulatory eye care center, Asian Eye is located at Phinma Plaza, Rockwell Center, Makati, with satellite clinics at TriNoma in Quezon City; Mall of Asia, Pasay City; and Commercenter in Alabang. Asian Eye has served over 100,000 local and foreign patients since its establishment in 2001.  Asian Eye counts among its officers Oscar M. Lopez, chairman emeritus of both Asian Eye and First Philippines Holdings Corporation, one of the country’s biggest conglomerates.

“We know our kababayans abroad worry about their family members who have eye conditions or who  suffer from an eye problem. Through the OFW Family Eye Care Program, we seek to become a partner of every OFW in the world, including seafarers, in ensuring that their loved ones receive the best possible eye care while they are away. More importantly, we would like to encourage more Filipinos to take charge of their eye health and prevent sight-threatening diseases,” said Asian Eye Vice President and General Manager Alwin Sta. Rosa.

“We are happy to find a partner in PNB. Aside from being one of the leading providers of remittance services to OFWs, they also share the same goal of making it hassle-free for Filipinos to support and care for their family in the Philippines,” Mr. Sta. Rosa added. (Story/Photo by: Joel D. Gaborni)