If you thought housecalls were a thing of the past, think again. Dr. Cameron Parrett is a 21st century circuit rider, illuminating the lives of elderly patients unable to drive, walk or even get out of bed.

A native Californian who spent several childhood summers on his physician uncle's ranch in Napa, he travels as far as Lake County to bring improved vision to those in need. He has been doing these works of mercy since opening his ophthalmology practice in the Napa Valley in 1980.

His career

"I was trained to perform housecalls during my eye residency at USC School of Medicine in Los Angeles County. This service was part of the community outreach provided by the Department of Ophthalmology at L.A. County Hospital," Parrett said.

During his residency at the USC Clinic, Parrett treated up to 40 patients a day

He continued to make housecalls from the earliest years of his practice in the Napa Valley.

He maintained a satellite office in Lake County for many years, and even after closing it continued to serve his patients in that area by offering housecalls to those finding it a hardship to make the journey to Napa.

He has been on the active medical staff of Queen of the Valley Hospital since 1980 and continues to use the facilities at the Queen for diagnostic and surgical services not possible in the home environment.

Following his dad around

Parrett's philanthropic streak began at an early age. His story reads like a prescription for how a child becomes a doctor. "My dad was a physician in San Gabriel Valley (Southern California) specializing in internal medicine, and would sometimes take me with him on hospital rounds when I was a child.

"He also made occasional house calls, and I remember accompanying him on a few of those as well. I was always impressed by his kindness toward his patients and by his seemingly boundless knowledge of the human body and disease.

"When I was 6 or 7, I wrote a book on the birth of a baby after my parents explained to me how my little sister was born. My paternal grandfather and three of my uncles were physicians, including my dad's brother Virgil, who practiced OB-GYN here in Napa. There were several nurses in the family including my paternal grandmother."

An inquiring mind

Complementing his natural inclination toward medicine and service was an inquiring mind fostered by his mother.

"From my infancy, my mom read stories to me. I learned to read when I was four years old prior to starting school. I attribute my later academic success and wide-ranging interests to my early exposure to the printed word.

"My mom would take me to the public library on a weekly basis to check out books that I found appealing. I was naturally curious and developed interests in many areas, especially science.

"An elderly friend of hers, Naomi Stone, was an amateur astronomer who taught me to identify constellations, stars and planets. I was very impressed that she could tell time by the stars.

"My Uncle Ron Young, a pharmacist, gave me a rather sophisticated Gilbert chemistry set when I was 9 or 10, which I loved to play with. He was also an amateur radio operator and sparked my interest in electronics and technology.

"With Ron's help, I built a crystal radio from scratch when I was 10. He also got me interested in tropical fish and mechanics," Parrett said.

Another influence in Parrett's life was a family friend and youth leader at his church.

"Dr. Carver Mead was a professor of electrical engineering at Cal Tech. He further encouraged my interests in science -- not only electronics, but botany and geology. His brilliance and approachability were key factors in furthering my interest in the world around me," Parrett recalled.

Parrett also gives much of the credit for his development to his education.

His schooling years

"I was fortunate to have benefited, starting with kindergarten, from the superb public school systems in various communities where our family resided in Southern California. Many of my teachers recognized what they perceived as my gifts, and their encouragement of my academic pursuits accelerated my progress. I recall practically no teachers I didn't like, and I have always maintained a deep appreciation for the teaching profession."

Parrett graduated from Arcadia High School and from UCLA with a B.A. in zoology. He then attended UC San Francisco School of Medicine where he received his M.D. degree in 1973.

A medical background

"I performed my year of internship at Wadsworth VA Hospital in West Los Angeles and continued there to complete a residency and became board certified in internal medicine, my father's specialty.

"However, I took an elective rotation in ophthalmology as a senior medical resident and realized that was my true calling.

"After a year of ophthalmic basic science research at Estelle Doheny Eye Institute, I began my ophthalmology residency, which I finished in the summer of 1980, and was subsequently board certified.

"My background in internal medicine has provided me with enhanced insight regarding the relationship between the eye and systemic diseases such as diabetes, thyroid conditions, liver disease and even arthritis," Parrett said.

Casting around for a place to work, Parrett's eye settled on Napa.

"I knew I wanted to stay in California. By the time I was 18, I had been to every state except Alaska, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

On coming to Napa Valley

"During the limited spare time I had while completing my eye residency, I scouted several locales as potential practice locations. I had spent summers as a child on my Uncle Virgil Parrett's dairy and prune ranch off Big Ranch Road in Napa and fondly remembered those times and the beauty of the area.

"Napa Valley was also a favorite weekend getaway during my medical school years in San Francisco. So I chose Napa Valley, as there was a perceived need for an additional eye specialist here at that time.

"Within two years after starting my practice I acquired a satellite practice in Lake County from a retiring ophthalmologist and have included Lake County in my practice ever since."

Making housecalls

Parrett finds housecalls an enjoyable aspect of his practice that enables him to get away from the confinement of an office. He takes the time to fully answer his patients' questions about their eyes and general health and to help them better understand the nature and treatment of eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts.

"My greatest satisfaction is restoring clear vision to patients whose vision has become limited by cataracts. The remarkable advances in cataract surgery over the last three decades have been responsible for an unprecedented level of procedural safety and almost instant gratification for patient and surgeon alike in terms of rapid restoration of vision, including correction of nearsightedness and excessive farsightedness."

Parrett added, "While I certainly provide a needed service to patients lacking mobility, most of my patients are, in fact, ambulatory.

"However, the housecall experience has certain benefits that are difficult to replicate in an office. I can get firsthand information on medications my patients are taking (some of which can have ophthalmic side effects).

"I can appraise specific lighting situations and provide practical guidance on how to set up a dedicated reading area with appropriate lighting. I can accurately provide spectacle prescriptions for specific needs by measuring how far a patient sits from the TV set or computer screen. And I get to know patients more closely as individuals when I can work with them in the comfort of their own homes," Parrett added.

What his patients say

His patients agree. Bill Crane, well-known in Napa musical circles, has had two successful cataract operations.

"I enjoy Dr. Parrett's visits. We have a pleasant conversation while he examines me.

"What I appreciate most about him is his attention to detail: he always follows up with me to see if my medication is correct," Crane said.

Another patient, Louise Saunders, credits Parrett with saving her sight.

"On one visit, after his first examination, he put some drops in my eyes, said 'Stay there' and made a phone call. The next day I was operated on by a retina specialist in Santa Rosa. I'd had a detached retina and didn't know it."

After the operation, Saunders says she sees better than ever.

"Dr Parrett is always clear and honest. He is not only a great doctor but also a great friend," Saunders said.

A constant gardener

When not saving people's sight, Parrett enjoys gardening.

"I began growing my own backyard vegetable garden when I was 9 or 10 years old. I may have been inspired by the tall rows of corn in my Uncle Virgil's backyard in Napa or my Grandmother Young's roses in Glendale.

"But I don't remember anyone teaching me. I may have borrowed a book on gardening from the public library from which I learned the basics.

"It was fascinating to me -- almost miraculous -- that planting seeds (followed by some care) could result in complex and wonderful organisms which yielded abundant food that tasted better than the corn, tomatoes and radishes we bought at the supermarket."

Other interests include building computers, studying U.S. and world history, music, sailing, hiking and camping.