Optometrist eyeing return to Port Arthur after Harvey
Published 11:54 am Tuesday, October 10, 2017
- Dr. Raj Singla stands in front of some optometry equipment in his Port Arthur office damaged by Tropical Storm Harvey. He set up a temporary office in Beaumont and he hopes to return to Port Arthur in a couple of months. David Ball/The News
By David Ball
Dr. Raj Singla said he has visited all seven continents, but he always looks forward to coming back to Port Arthur.
He started Physicians Eye Center, Professional Optics and Southeast Texas Laser Eye Institute at 3000 39th St. in Port Arthur in 1980. Tropical Storm Harvey dealt the practice a severe blow, however, and his office had to be gutted to be rebuilt.
But with the same grit and determination he used to build the business over 37 years, Singla said he will be back in Port Arthur, better than ever to care for patients.
“Port Arthur has been very good to me,” he said. “This was devastating. We made a temporary move (to his satellite office at 3385 Laurel in Beaumont). We will be back here. That is the plan.”
Singla had flood insurance, but he said the payout is very minimal and he can’t even rebuild 10 percent of the office with the money. He added that optometry uses many machines and he probably lost more than $1 million worth of machines from Harvey.
“We have very expensive equipment here. We had two Lasik machines that are $250,000 for both of them. They’re ruined,” he said. “I can’t take a chance on someone’s eyes (using faulty equipment).”
The Singlas are hoping to reopen partially by December. What’s sad and ironic is the office was remodeled six months prior to the flood.
“My patients are suffering. There are not many eye doctors in Port Arthur. We offer a comprehensive eye service. I’m very proud of it,” he said. “We’re all suffering. We have a large clientele from Jasper, Orange, Beaumont, Nederland and Port Neches.”
Dr. Marwan Purghol, a neurologist who shares the building with Singla, was also displaced and set up in Nederland.
When the office closed on Friday evening on Aug. 25, Singla didn’t know it would be another week before he could look at his office again because of rising floodwaters.
They entered on Friday, Sept. 2 and there was still water in the building. The waterline indicated two and a half feet of water was inside. To add insult to injury, the roof leaked too during Harvey.
“We will rebuild everything. It’s a big building. It’s 12,000 square feet,” he said.
In the meantime, patients who need Dr. Singla can either visit him at the office on Laurel next to Beaumont Bone & Joint, or call either 409-988-2569 or 409-832-3120.
“If you have special needs, we’re there for you,” Singla said.
