JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
You slide your chin onto the metal support, your forehead against curved metal, and enter a staring match with the machine's coal-black eye.
From the darkness, a circular projection appears, a hot air balloon hanging in the background at the end of a straight road on a dull-green plain. The image blurs out of focus, returns to clarity, and blurs again. The machine switches to the right eye, the ritual is the same. The machine has approximated your eye prescription.
The balloon disappears and is replaced with a green light. The machine hums. A burst of air is puffed into your eye to check eye pressure.
The machine, an autorefractor, measures vital data about your eyes, catching a variety of serious diseases and irregularities and keeping the Air Force fit-to-fight.
Optometry technicians use the autorefractor and a variety of other tests to screen for eye problems.
"We have to make sure everyone who comes through our office is mission ready," said Senior Airman Katherine Girard, 779th Aerospace Medical Squadron optometry technician. "If the Airman can't see, they can't shoot."
The Joint Base Andrews Optometry Clinic sees more than 15,000 patients per year and issues approximately 8,000 pairs of glasses.
Technicians screen patients before they see the doctor, dilate eyes, do peripheral vision tests, ship glasses, perform flightline drivers tests and make sure to Airmen on flight status are safe to fly by issuing contacts and performing physicals.
"My favorite part is puffing people in the eye," Girard said. "You never know how people will react."
The clinic offers care to DOD members, their families and retirees.
"I love the interactions with patients," said Staff Sgt. Marquita Moore, 779th AMDS Optometry NCO in-charge. "I get to meet people from all over the base."
From flight status to a child's check-up, the JBA Optometry clinic screens and serves America's fighting force and keeps JBA flying safely.
"The eyes are the window to the soul," Moore said. "A dentist can replace your teeth, but nobody can replace your eyes."