'New' Optical Center enters fifth month at March ARB

  • Published
  • By Megan Just
  • 452nd AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  It was business as usual for the employees of the new March ARB Optical Center as they passed their four-month anniversary on Tuesday, September 1. The center, which is located next to the Base Exchange, includes an optical store and an optometry care center, has been busy since its opening, but has remained largely undiscovered with the majority of the March ARB community. 

"We're still so new; a lot of the base doesn't even know we exist. We haven't done much advertising since we're mostly trying to get referrals by word of mouth right now," said Dr. Philip Quach, the Optical Center's Optometrist. 

Quach recommends yearly exams, even for people who believe there is nothing wrong with their eyes. 

"People associate the eyes with just vision. But the eyes are an organ in the body and you need regular check-ups," he said. "The eyes can actually tell you a lot about what the rest of the body's going through." 

Quach said that because the eyes are directly related to the brain, it is possible to detect neurological problems through eye examinations. Other health problems that can be discovered through the eyes include: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer, especially brain tumors. Diseases of the eye, such as glaucoma and cataracts, are another thing he checks for. 

" Since we're a private company by National Vision Incorporated, you can come in here and get yourr glasses. You don't need to get through any security gates; just come in here and utilize our services," said Walter Parmley, the general manager of the Optical Center. 

National Vision, Inc., runs optical centers in cooperation with Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), the company that runs military base exchanges worldwide. 

The Optical Center "opened cold" on May 1 this year. Previously, service members and retirees had to travel to Camp Pendleton to receive optometric care at a military installation. 

The Optical Center has been a long time in the making. Several years have passed since the initial suggestion that March ARB, with its large community of retirees, would make a perfect location for an Optical Center. The Optical Center proposal required Congressional approval before the contracting negotiations could even begin. 

The persistence paid off: the Optical Center has been busy since day one. 

"It has hit the ground running. For an optical shop just like this, if it was private, you probably wouldn't see a return on it for at least two years. Now, we're just trying to increase our sales and our service and try to make everybody happy," Parmley said. 

The Optical Center sells contacts, eyeglasses, and eyewear accessories at low prices. Frames take five to seven business days to complete and the shop has a lab that can provide some services in less than an hour. They also carry military-specific eyewear such as safety glasses and Wiley X shatterproof sunglasses. 

Walter Parmley, who used to work at a private optical store in Aliso Viejo, Calif., shook his head in disbelief when he read the price tag on a pair of women's Gucci frames.

Not all the frames in the Optical Shop are made by high-end designers. The shop carries a variety of brands for men, such as: NASCAR, Sean John, Randy Jackson and Timberland. For women, their frame brands include: Sophia Loren, Daisy Fuentes, Oscar de la Renta, and Coach for women. There are other brands made just for kids. 

In addition to the already low prices, the Optical Center is constantly offering promotions, coupons, and give-a-ways. A current promotion that runs through October 31 is, 'Buy one, get one half off on all eyeglasses.' The Optical Center also hosts a blow-out contact lens event each June. 

Parmley also has access to special eyewear services for service members. Contacts.net is one of these. 

"It's for servicemen that are being deployed and sometimes they can't wait around for five to seven working days to get their lenses. They can actually go online and have them delivered anywhere they are," Parmley said. 

In his four months of practice at March ARB, Dr. Quach has seen his share of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM veterans seeking care for their eyes. 

"A lot of them complain of dryness and irritation because they're coming back from the desert. Some of them have pieces of metal in their eyes from trauma," Quach said. 

This is the first time Quach has worked in an optical practice that catered to military service members. He has enjoyed the experience very much. 

"Service members are very considerate. They make appointments and they show up to them on time. There's a lot of respect and I like that. It's a different mindset. Patients will call you if they're running late. With other offices, they won't do that," he said. 

In addition to eye exams and care, the Quach performs pre-assessments for laser eye surgery and can start the referral process. 

Dr. Quach is available for walk-ins 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The Optical Shop is open during the same hours.