by Satina Richardson

UAB Eye Care, the clinical arm of the UAB School of Optometry, will see patients at the 1917 Clinic, the largest HIV health care unit in Alabama and one of the country’s leading HIV clinics. Eye care at the clinic begins on February 14.

This is the first time eye care has been provided onsite at the 1917 Clinic. Moving to a larger space made the addition of optometry into the multidisciplinary clinic possible. Patients will be referred to UAB Eye Care by the 1917 Clinic team.

“We have been seeing 1917 Clinic patients at UAB Eye Care for some time now, but opening an eye clinic in the 1917 space will provide the patients with both easier access to care and will allow more continuity of care,” said Andrew Rothstein, OD, UAB Eye Care’s onsite attending physician.

​According to Rothstein, HIV/AIDS can affect the eyes in a myriad of ways, from the front to the back of the eye and many of these conditions are asymptomatic in early stages. 

“This patient population is at risk for comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes,” he said. “Early detection and management of these diseases provide a much better prognosis than if they are caught later.”

​Rothstein has a passion for community eye care and looks forward to serving patients at the 1917 Clinic.

“I was drawn to optometry by the tangible difference that eye care can make in patients' lives,” he said. “It grieves me to know that there are people with treatable vision problems that do not receive care due to barriers such as lack of insurance or transportation. The way the 1917 Clinic has broken down many of these barriers is exciting and I'm happy to be able to play a small part in that.”

Optometry students will join Rothstein at this location. In preparation for the 1917 Clinic rotation, they were required to undergo specific training about the effects of HIV/AIDS on the eyes. Diversity, equity and inclusion education specific to this population was also required.

“The students will benefit immensely from this experience,” Rothstein said. “It will allow them to experience managing unique eye conditions that are not often seen in the general population. In addition, they will have the benefit of seeing how eye care fits into a multidisciplinary setting.”

In addition to the 1917 Clinic location, UAB Eye Care sees patients at the Western Health Center, Alabama Regional Medical Services (ARMS), Cahaba Medical Care and the Providing Access to Healthcare Clinic (PATH).