Kirby Puckett Education Center opens at Phillips Eye Institute

Minneapolis-The Kirby Puckett Education Center has opened on the campus of the Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis. The family of the late Minnesota Twins baseball player, whose diagnosis of glaucoma ended his career in 1996, dedicated the facility April 30.

The center, open to patients and visitors of the Phillips Eye Institute and to the general public as well, houses comprehensive education materials to help patients better understand the treatment of eye disease. Glaucoma testing and vision screenings eventually will be provided free of charge.

"We want to make sure we are a part of glaucoma prevention and education, and the best way to do that is through comprehensive patient education," said David Orbuch, president of the Phillips Eye Institute. "The Puckett family is an unfortunate expert when it comes to eye disease. Still, their passion for promoting better eye-health awareness in our community, and their dedication to helping prevent eye disease in Kirby's name, are simply amazing."

The Minnesota Twins highlighted the Kirby Puckett Education Center the evening before the dedication at a home game at the Metrodome. Before the opening pitch, the team also honored the Puckett family's dedication to supporting glaucoma awareness and education with patron giveaways, free youth vision screenings, and other special events.

To find out more about the Kirby Puckett Education Center, please visit Phillips Eye Institute's Web site, http://www.phillipseyeinstitute.com/