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Della McClain, center, with her daughter, Molly Kay Reynolds, and UNMC’s Aaron Alme, M.D. |
“I first started coming to the clinic during the summer of 1936,” McClain said. “I was swimming in Carter Lake and it had a green scum on it. The water was messed-up and some of it got in my eye.”
McClain had just moved to Omaha from Kansas City, Mo., to attend the University of Nebraska-Omaha. “I went to the University when it was on 24th Street,” she said. “That was a long time ago. I don’t know if they even have record of that.”
McClain said she and six other children developed eye infections after swimming in Carter Lake, which forced the lake to close for the summer. She then sought treatment at UNMC.
“My pupil covered almost my entire eye. The doctor had to bring the pupils down to normal size so I could see. That’s how they treated it then. I don’t know what they do now.”
McClain said she has seen many things change at UNMC throughout her lifetime. “Everything has changed. It’s all bigger, smarter and newer.”
Aaron Alme, M.D., a resident in the UNMC ophthalmology department, agreed. “Our scope of practice has expanded dramatically over the history of the eye clinic, with advances in surgical techniques, diagnostic technology, and medications, all of which evolve monthly.”
According to McClain, however, the kind of people working at UNMC stays the same. She said she has seen many UNMC doctors throughout the years and the people have always been nice to her. “The eye clinic has helped me for many years. They are very good.”
“Our most important goal remains unchanged: providing excellent care for our patients,” Dr. Alme said.
Despite her experiences in 1936, McClain admitted she hasn’t had many eye problems during her lifetime. “People at the clinic think I have good vision,” she said. “I had my cataracts removed nine years ago, but that’s all.”
McClain recently relinquished her driver’s license, but said she’ll continue to visit the clinic two times a year for regular check-ups. Until a few years ago, she delivered Meals-on-Wheels to local residents.
“Over 65 years of driving, I had two accidents and never had any tickets. I now have a lady who comes and takes me to the clinic,” McClain said.
The residents and eye clinic staff said McClain always makes them feel at ease, and they are pleased to be a part of her eye care.
“The confidence of our long time patients is very meaningful and humbling that they entrust their care to us despite so many changes of physicians in a teaching institution,” said Kathy Austin, administrative director in the UNMC department of ophthalmology and visual sciences. “We must be doing something right if a patient stays for over 50 years.”
As for McClain, she vows to continue visiting UNMC for her eye care. “I’ll keep coming back as long as I’m still here,” she said.