Dr. James Beckwith

By Brian Sodoma

Friday, May 1, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Dr. James Beckwith became interested in an optometry career in the fifth grade, when, he said, he visited an eye care center that “had a lot of fun toys.” Today, after almost two decades as a private practice optometrist, Beckwith feels the same satisfaction from his chosen profession that he did when he first started.

“The thing I’m proudest of is just seeing people smile. ... it’s an awesome experience to help someone,” he said.

Beckwith has taken his desire to help people see the world more clearly to a higher level, locally and beyond. The fun-loving optometrist and owner of the Vision Source franchise Summerlin-Lakes office offers his support for issues such as higher education funding, diabetes prevention, and glaucoma treatment and prevention.

In 2006, Beckwith took his family on a trip to an impoverished area of Mexico. In three days, Beckwith and a group of doctors volunteering with Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity saw to the medical needs of more than 1,000 patients. He also coordinates twice a year with Vision Source’s 11 valley offices to offer free glaucoma and diabetes (eye-related) exams.

Beckwith also is doing his part to address the rising cost of higher education. With other Vision Source optometrists, he helps fund and coordinate the dispersal of three $1,000 college scholarships per year for valley high-school students looking at careers in health-related fields.

The optometrist provides free exams to the valley’s homeless and partners with the American Optometric Association to provide complimentary eye exams for the working poor, children and families during Save Your Vision Month in March. He also is involved with Optometry Giving Sight, a national nonprofit that supports men, women and children who are blind or vision impaired, because of the lack of access to eye care. The group builds infrastructure for vision care in countries that don’t have it. This year, on Oct. 11, Beckwith and the doctors in other Vision Source offices will donate revenues from service fees for the day to help fund the group.