Dr. Gary Pedersen of Grand Island has been in the eye care business for over 30 years now, but he doesn't limit his opportunities, and he has a great passion for helping

VOSH International is a 35-year-old organization that is dedicated to providing eye care for people below poverty level. VOSH stands for Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity. Once Pedersen made his first trip with VOSH in 1986, he was hooked.

Over the past 20 years, the Kearney State graduate has made more than 20 trips to South America, Central America and Mexico.

Pedersen sees an average of 15 patients a day in his Grand Island office, but when he's working south of the border he'll see up to 100 people a day.

"Going down there, our goal is to help as many people as we can in a short amount of time, 'cause these are mostly people that don't have the means of buying their own glasses. It's kind of their one time shot to have their eyes checked," Pedersen said.

Each year, Pedersen looks forward to his next chance to volunteer his time and expertise to those less fortunate.

"Once you go and you kind of get the experience of what it's all about, then it seems like you're kind of hooked," he said.

Six Nebraskan eye doctors go on a regular basis.

"For most of them it just gives them such a good feeling to be able to do what they do as a profession and yet go out and help somebody in a different type of setting in a different culture," Pedersen said.

Along with an eye exam, the doctors take along 4,000 or 5,000 pairs of used glasses that he give to their patients.

When Pedersen can restore someone's ability to see clearly, in what may have been their first eye exam ever, all political and philosophical differences are set aside.

"They appreciate what we're doing down there, so it's pretty fulfilling to get their responses. They may be wanting to give you a chicken to pay for your services. They can't afford it, but they're more than happy to give you whatever they would have," he said.

Over the past 20 years, Pedersen estimates that he and his fellow Nebraska doctors have handed out 40,000 pair of used glasses.

"It's just fun seeing he expression on their face sometimes," Pedersen said.

One of Pedersen's most gratifying moments came when a couple that were both in their 70s finally got glasses many years after they had cataract surgery.

"We happened to find a pair for each one of them and they put those on and they looked at each other and they started hugging. They hadn't seen each other for years, since they actually had their surgery done, so it's those type of things that make it worthwhile," he said.

The details are yet to be finalized, but Pedersen and his fellow Nebraskans are planning on yet another trip later this year -- to southern Mexico state of Guerrero.

For more information about the VOSH program, click here.