Haiti Optometry Students Answer Call to Help Mobile Clinic

In 2013, Optometry Giving Sight (OGS), Université de Montréal, the State University of Haiti, and the Brien Holden Foundation established a consortium that began work on establishing an optometry school at the university. Despite significant political turmoil and other challenges, the school continues to train students to expand the optometry profession in the country and provide desperately needed vision care to the estimated 1 million-plus individuals in the country who suffer from blindness or vision impairment.*

This article originally appeared as a LinkedIn post and is shared here with the permission of its creator, optometry student Jean Francois Erickson. The numbers shown after each student’s name indicate that student’s year in the optometry program.

Optometry Giving Sight applauds Mr. Erickson and his fellow students for their perseverance and commitment to the optometry profession and for undertaking this valuable outreach initiative.

Image of Haitian optometry students in a group smiling.In a context marked by trying situations for the population, a Haitian association known by the acronym AHDH (Haitian Association for Human Development) operating from the United States has launched an appeal, a request for volunteering for a mobile eye clinic. A group of optometry students from the School of Optometry of the State University of Haiti responded to this request. From November 18 to 23, 2024, there were 5 of them: Kimberly Alexandre O5, Leandro Thezard O4, James Hugson Luxana O4, Romekyle Georges O3, Jensen Petidor O3. With the organisation’s professionals understaffed following the halt of flights at the country’s main airport, they faced new challenges.

This initiative, which is made possible thanks to a partnership between AHDH and a local organization, CODEVA (Coude-à-coude pour le Développement Valléen), responded to a growing urgency: to offer eye care to an often neglected population. The inhabitants of the valley at St. Joseph’s Hospital receive this care only in this kind of extraordinary case. This has greatly testified to the need for care of all kinds in this locality, one among many.

Photo of a Haitian optometry student examining a woman's eyesWith a patient-centered approach, 228 received appropriate care, including more than sixty glaucomatous patients, 4 for laser procedures, 14 patients for cataract surgeries, cases of conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, chalazion, retinopathy and problems related to eye trauma and serious infections, often not treated due to lack of local resources. Each consultation included a vision exam, an eye health assessment, and recommendations for follow-up. For complex cases, referrals to specialists have been arranged. More than 200 corrective glasses were donated as well as eye drops and other medicines free of charge. Several individuals, including glaucoma sufferers, testify that they have not received this appropriate care for semesters or even years. This has led to complications especially in those requiring regular eye follow-ups.

It was an exceptional experience for these young shoots carrying hope and already making the pride of the Pearl. This experience underscores the critical importance of increasing the number of mobile clinics to serve remote areas of Haiti. This mission proved that with determination and solidarity, it is possible to make a tangible difference in the lives of communities. The School of Optometry’s Student Committee salutes the commitment of these young professionals and organizations while reiterating its thanks to the international and national communities on behalf of the school. They continue to work tirelessly for quality eye care in Haiti.

Erickson JEAN FRANCOIS
President of the Student Committee of the UEH School of Optometry

*From https://www.iapb.org/learn/vision-atlas/magnitude-and-projections/countries/haiti/

Thank you, Hillsboro Vision Clinic!

Photo of Hillsboro Vision Clinic's goodie tableWhen the call went out for optometry practices to participate in our annual World Sight Day Challenge, Hillsboro Vision Clinic in Hillsboro, Oregon, went all out! They donated proceeds from one day of optical sales, hosted a sunglass raffle, and treated patients (who gave donations as well) to OGS giveaways and baked goods from Decadent Creations.

In addition to taking the World Sight Day Challenge (WSDC), the clinic also participates in OGS’s monthly giving campaign and donates to the organization through PECAA’s Growing Through Giving Program, which is available to any PECAA practice.

Practice owner, Dr. Drew Perry, took over the clinic when his father, Dr. Matthew Perry – who purchased it in 1987 – retired. The younger Dr. Perry wanted to find a way to give back to the community in addition to the practice’s outreach program for uninsured patients who need help affording eye exams and eyeglasses. He found in OGS a way to expand the impact of his philanthropy beyond the clinic walls.

Office manager Krystle Goff coordinated the WSDC activities at the practice. “There’s always a fun ‘vibration’ that happens around the office when something greater than us is going on.

“Although we help folks every single day with their vision,” she says, “doing something that benefits those even farther outside our doors feels pretty incredible.

“Knowing we have contributed to an organization that reaches folks in need far beyond what our eyes can see feels amazing. It brings a certain comradery between patients and staff that isn’t necessarily found often. This opportunity to raise funds for OGS gave our clinic a chance to work alongside our community to make a positive impact together. That feels great. We can’t wait to give it a go again next year!”

Thank you, Hillsboro Vision Clinic and the Hillsboro community, for helping give the gift of sight to people in need all over the world!

2024 Projects Supported

With the Generous Support of our Donors in 2024:

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has announced the selection of its 2024 grant program recipients. This year, 16 grants totaling almost $1 million USD have been awarded to 15 organizations for projects that will help eradicate uncorrected refractive error globally.

As “Optometry’s CharityTM,” OGS raises funds from optometrists, optometry practices, and optometry-related businesses and corporations to award annual grants for sustainable, impactful projects that expand the profession and improve access to vision care in underserved areas of the world. Since the grant program began, OGS has awarded more than 200 grants totaling more than $23 million.

This life-changing work would not be possible without your support.

The 2024 grantee organizations and projects funded are:

Project: Building an Optometry Driven Sustainable School Eye Health Program in South Africa

Grantee: African Eye Institute Trust

This project, by the African Eye Institute Trust, includes providing eye exams and free eyeglasses for children, vision screening training for teachers and others, and working with the government to prioritize child eye health in South Africa.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 16,200

Project: Every Child Sees – One School at a Time, Pakistan

Grantee: Berkeley Vision

The grant will fund the screening of 20,000 children at schools in underserved areas of Karachi, Pakistan by providing free refraction services and eyeglasses, and referring children needing advanced eye examinations to hospitals. Also included is training for optometrists, project staff, and school teachers.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 20,000

Project: Pediatric Refractive Error Training Centre and continuation of developing the optometry profession in Hanoi, Vietnam

Grantee: Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation

The grant will fund the ongoing expansion and enhancement of clinical care at the Pediatric Refractive Error Training Centre in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Centre, established in part by previous grants from OGS, is the clinical training and patient care facility affiliated with Hanoi Medical University’s Optometry Program.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 12,300

Project: Mzuzu Academic Vision Centre Remediation

Grantee: Canadian Vision Care

Canadian Vision Care will use this grant to repair and maintain the vision teaching center facility for the University of Mzuzu’s Optometry Program in Mzuzu, Malawi. The university program, funded in part by Optometry Giving Sight in 2008, has resulted in the graduation of more than 60 optometrists to date.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 10,000

Project: Pop-Up and Mobile Vision Clinics

Grantee: Healing California

Healing California will use this grant to provide pop-up and mobile vision clinics throughout California for people in need of vision care. By providing free, quality vision services to those who need it most, Healing California is a champion for equitable healthcare coverage for all people.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 3,000

Project: EyeTeach – Enhancing Teaching Skills of Optometry Educators in India

Grantee: India Vision Institute

This grant will be used by the India Vision Institute to provide training in teaching and instruction to 100 optometry faculty members at 40 optometry schools in India. It is estimated that the additional training will enable faculty members to positively impact the education of 3,200 optometry students throughout the country.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 45,000

Project: Strengthening Pediatric Optometry in Mozambique

Grantee: Light for the World International

Light for the World International will use this grant to train 20 optometrists employed by the national Mozambique government. Participants will undergo specialized training in critical skills related to pediatric eye care, including pediatric refraction and optical corrections.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 20 optometrists trained to serve thousands of children

Project: Providing Glasses and Eye Care to Primary School Children in Western Jamaica

Grantee: See Better. Learn Better Jamaica

The organization will use this grant to provide optometry services and improve the eye health system in western Jamaica. Included in the project are: eye exams and eyeglasses for school-aged children, training of optometry students and opticians, and collaborative efforts with local hospitals and other eye care providers on the island.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 7,000

Project: Expanding Special Olympics Opening Eyes Vision Care Programming for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Grantee: Special Olympics

This grant will fund initiatives to improve the vision and health of people with intellectual disabilities and raise awareness of vision care’s role in their well-being.  Funding will be used in support of the organization’s Opening Eyes program, which provides free eye exams and eye glasses to Special Olympics athletes. A portion of the award will also be used to provide specialized training for optometrists, optometry students, and other eye care practitioners who volunteer to provide the exams.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 4,000

Project: Serving the Eye Care Needs of Children in Santo Domingo Through Education, Advocacy, and Research

Grantee: Technological University of Santiago (UTESA)

The grant will enable UTESA to provide comprehensive eye exams and eyeglasses to 1,000 public school children in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. A portion of the funding will also be used to gather research data on the prevalence of refractive error and visual impairment within the Dominican population. Results will be presented to local Dominican authorities, at the American Academy of Optometry annual meeting, and published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 1,000

Project: Francophone Optometry Development Program

Grantee: Université de Montréal (UdeM)/Unité de Santé Internationale (USI)

The project funded by this grant will support the development of new or emerging optometry programs in La Francophonie, namely in Morocco, Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Vietnam, Mali and Senegal.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 88 optometry students per year who will give vision care to tens of thousands of people

Project: Development of Optometry in Haiti

Grantee: Université de Montréal

This grant will fund the continuing development and growth of the School of Optometry at the University of Haiti in Port-Au-Prince. The school was established in 2017 in part by funding from Optometry Giving Sight and recognized its first cohort of Haitian optometrists this year.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 1 million

Project: Advancing Optometry and Sustainable Vision Services in Sierra Leone

Grantee: Vision Action

Vision Action will use this grant to strengthen the optometry profession in Sierra Leone, which currently includes only eight optometrists and 17 optometry technicians. Funding will be used train additional optometry technicians and to support the upcoming launch of the Optometry Association in Sierra Leone to make available continuing professional development for current and future optometrists in the country.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 18,220

Project: UNAN Non-Profit Optical Laboratory in Nicaragua

Grantee: Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity California (VOSH California)

This grant will be used by VOSH California to develop an optical lab at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN). In collaboration with other organizations, Optometry Giving Sight helped fund the creation of a School of Optometry at the university. The award will allow for the purchase of a patternless edger and 20,000 single vision lenses so that many of the eyeglasses prescribed via the school’s community outreach programs can be created on-site, at a much lower cost, allowing for more subsidized or free glasses to those who cannot afford them.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 25,000

Project: Optometric Education and Humanitarian Optometric Services in Four Regions of the World

Grantee: Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH International, Inc.)

This grant will be used to provide training and equipment for faculty and students of optometry schools in low and middle-income settings within Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Funds will also enable VOSH to offer primary vision care services and eyeglasses to patients in the regions.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 16,000

Project: Optometry Program in Advocacy and Leadership (OPAL)

Grantee: World Council of Optometry

The World Council of Optometry will use this grant to offer its Optometry Program in Advocacy and Leadership (OPAL) training to practitioners from countries in which the profession is not yet fully established. The ongoing program is offered virtually and provides participants from throughout the world with the tools and resources they need to develop sustainable vision care advocacy programs in their countries.

Estimated number of people who will benefit: 30 optometrists directly, and the populations whom they will advocate for (from all 6 WHO regions) will benefit in the long term

New Executive Director – Donna Mikulecky

New Executive Director Donna MikuleckyOptometry Giving Sight (OGS) is pleased to announce that Donna J. Mikulecky, CPA, has accepted the organization’s Executive Director position. She replaces retiring Executive Director Lois Schoenbrun, FAAO, who has served in the role since April 2022.

Mikulecky has more than 25 years of experience leading healthcare organizations, most recently as Chief Operating Officer of Vision Source. Until her appointment as Executive Director, she served as Treasurer of OGS’s U.S. and Canada Boards of Directors.

“I’ve had the pleasure of serving with Donna for the last several years,” says U.S. Board Chair, Dr. Juan Carlos Aragón. “As a board member, she has been committed to our mission and a very valued colleague. I look forward to working with her in her new role.”

“She has the skills and experience to lead us forward,” adds Canada Board Chair Dr. Susan Cooper. “With Donna’s passion, business acumen, and industry knowledge, OGS will continue to invest in the international development of optometry to provide sustainable primary vision care to those in need.”

As “Optometry’s Charity™,” OGS raises funds from optometrists, optometry practices, and optometry-related businesses and corporations to award grants for sustainable, impactful projects that expand the profession and improve access to vision care in underserved areas of the world. During the last 20 years, OGS has: awarded more than 180 grants for primary eye care services for more than 8 million people; funded the training of more than 14,000 optometrists and eye care personnel; established more than 130 vision centers in underserved areas; and served individuals of all ages in more than 40 countries.

A First Cohort of Graduates From Haiti’s School of Optometry

In 2013, Optometry Giving Sight, Université de Montréal, the State University of Haiti, and the Brien Holden Foundation established a consortium that began work on establishing an optometry school at the university. Despite significant political turmoil and other challenges, the school continues to train students in an effort to build the optometry profession in the country. There are currently only three optometrists in the country of 11 million people. This article is reprinted with the permission of  Université de Montréal.

A first cohort of graduates from Haiti's School of Optometry

The State University of Haiti has successfully established a School of Optometry with support from an international consortium* led by the Université de Montréal. And despite operating in a very challenging environment, the school is now celebrating the graduation of its first cohort of students. These include Jonathan Simon and Anne-Christy Orcel, two freshly trained professionals who will soon take on teaching positions at the Haitian institution.

In preparation, the two are currently completing a three-month internship at UdeM’s School of Optometry. This will give them the opportunity to gain practical experience while deepening their theoretical knowledge, learning teaching methods and getting an appreciation for how optometry is practiced in Quebec.

“We hope they’ll realize just how much potential there is in this field and come away with an aspirational vision of what the profession could look like in their country,” said Luigi Bilotto, who is the project director, an international optometric consultant and a clinical lecturer at UdeM’s School of Optometry. “We also want them to get exposure to community work and gain valuable experience in both academic and clinical management.”

For both Simon and Orcel, the internship was made possible by a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship, administered by UdeM’s International Health Unit. This program promotes international exchanges between Canada and the Caribbean to advance the education of public health professionals and research leaders.

“I’m delighted to finally have them here with us despite a host of challenges that led to their arrival being delayed twice,” stated Caroline Auguste, a project coordinator at the International Health Unit. “I’m also proud to play a role in developing their local teaching team, which will make the program more likely to succeed over the long-term.”

 

The short (or not-so-short) story

In 2013, work got underway to establish the State University of Haiti’s School of Optometry, which is the second French-speaking establishment of its kind in the world, with the first being the optometry school at UdeM.

The establishment aims to fight against preventable vision loss in Haiti, a country with just three optometrists and fewer than 50 ophthalmologists for a population of 11 million. To complicate matters, most of these professionals are located in the capital, which means that people living in remote and generally poorer areas have limited access to eye care. The consortium led by UdeM hopes that training locals will address the lack of services across the country.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas. For years, it has been mired in serious political, economic, health and security crises, which have paralyzed the nation and fuelled growing violence. The School of Optometry’s educational activities were delayed by a number of serious events including the 2010 earthquake, which damaged the buildings for the future school, the COVID-19 pandemic, the assassination of president Jovenel Moïse, and the power vacuum that led to the expansion of local gangs.

“We were unable to send any optometrists or technicians to set up the clinic and the equipment needed to train students,” explained Luigi Bilotto. “We also had to deliver remote training, through outside instructors hired by the Brien Holden Foundation, while dealing with intermittent Internet connectivity issues. But despite all these setbacks, we now have a first cohort and have even brought two interns here. It’s a huge accomplishment!”

 

Students invested in their country

Jonathan Simon and Anne-Christy Orcel are the two Haitian interns currently learning alongside members of UdeM’s School of Optometry. Having received a warm welcome, they’re thrilled to be sharpening their skills and knowledge in Montreal. In particular, the two are learning all the practical aspects of working as an optometrist, since the clinic in Haiti hasn’t been able to open due to social and political unrest in the country. This is giving them a broader understanding of vision care.

Both are looking forward to applying their new knowledge back home and giving back to their community. “Eye care isn’t a priority for the Haitian government even though there is a huge need for basic care. I’m looking forward to helping people in need,” said Jonathan Simon. “By coming to Montreal to broaden my theoretical and practical knowledge, I’ll be able to go back and better serve my country.”

Meanwhile, Anne-Christy Orcel noted that her new knowledge of refractive disorders, such as myopia, is sure to be very useful as these conditions are widespread but often left untreated in Haiti. “Being able to perform a complete assessment and provide just the right prescription for normal refractive errors, this alone should make a big difference.”

 

* The consortium is led by Université de Montréal, via its School of Optometry and International Health Unit. The other members are the State University of Haiti, the Brien Holden Foundation and Optometry Giving Sight, which is the project’s main source of funding.

Lois Schoenbrun to Retire as OGS Executive Director

Nationwide Search Underway for Successor

Photo of Lois Schoenbrun - Interim Executive Director of Optometry Giving SightJuly 19, 2024 – Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has announced that Executive Director Lois Schoenbrun, CAE (Retired), FAAO, will retire from the organization in December 2024. Previously the Executive Director of the American Academy of Optometry, she came out of retirement in that role to serve as interim executive director for OGS in April 2022.

“Although the initial interim period was intended to be short,” Schoenbrun says, “I believed so passionately in the mission and quickly saw what a tremendous difference OGS makes in lives of people all over the world. So, the ‘interim’ appointment turned into nearly two and a half years. And I have enjoyed every minute of it.”

“When Lois joined OGS, we knew that we were getting a seasoned, successful leader from the optometry community,” says OGS U.S. board chair, Juan Carlos Aragón, OD. “We are very appreciative of all that she and her team have accomplished, particularly in such a short period of time.”

The chair of the organization’s Canada board, Susan Cooper, OD, agrees. “Under Lois’s leadership,” she says, “we’ve strengthened the financial future of OGS, revised our vision and mission statement language to better align with the World Health Organization, and created additional staff positions to bring much-needed expertise in-house.”

“During Lois’s time here,” Aragón adds, “OGS earned a 4-star designation from the non-profit assessment firm Charity Navigator. It’s the highest rating possible for a non-profit, and a first for the organization, indicating that a donor can have faith in the organizations’ governance practices and financial health, including transparency, efficiency and sustainability.

“Lois has in so many ways positioned OGS for continued success and growth,” he says. “We wish her the best in her retirement and look forward to a very bright future for OGS.”

A nationwide search is underway for Schoenbrun’s replacement. Information regarding the position can be found here.

TEAM OGS Now Available for Optometry Practices

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has launched a new program to provide optometry practices with ways to support OGS’s work on a year-round basis by integrating fundraising activities into their everyday business operations. The initiative is called TEAM OGSTogether Eyecare Achieves Miracles – and is available to all optometry practitioners in the United States and Canada.

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to end preventable blindness and vision impairment globally. As “Optometry’s Charity,™” OGS raises funds from optometrists, optometry practices, and optometry-related businesses and corporations to award grants for sustainable, impactful projects that expand the profession and improve access to vision care in underserved areas of the world.

“Since the inception of OGS, the optometry community has generously supported our work, particularly through our annual World Sight Day Challenge, which began in 2007,” says OGS Executive Director Lois Schoenbrun, CAE (Ret.), FAAO.

“The World Sight Day Challenge is, historically, our largest fundraising activity. But it runs only two months out of the year, explains Schoenbrun. “Optometry practices began asking us for ways to raise funds throughout the year as well. So, TEAM OGS was born.”

“Optometrists and optometry practices are very generous and compassionate,” she adds. “Most practices are quite involved in their local communities, whether they have formal corporate social responsibility programs in place or not. Their support of OGS – and participation in TEAM OGS – demonstrate their concern for people throughout the world who have little to no access to vision care.”

Through TEAM OGS, practices can select from a variety of ways to raise funds for OGS through the normal course of doing business. Options include: donating a day of eye exam fees each month; choosing to give a percentage of eyeglass frames or products sold; promoting vision care rebate and reward programs that benefit OGS; or engaging their patients in ways to give. There is no cost to join TEAM OGS, and all materials for the program are provided at no charge.

According to Schoenbrun, one of the primary considerations for selecting which fundraising activities to include in TEAM OGS was how easy it would be for optometry professionals to participate. “We know how busy optometrists and their staffs are,” she says, “and we wanted to make it easy for them to participate in TEAM OGS, so their focus can remain on caring for patients every day.”

Click here to find out more.

CooperVision Raises More Than $300,000 in Support of OGS’s 2023 World Sight Day Challenge

CooperVision logo

– CooperVision’s Cumulative Donation Now Approaches $5 Million –

As part of its commitment to improve the way people see every day, CooperVision raised more than $300,000 in 2023 through global initiatives in support of Optometry Giving Sight (OGS). OGS helps communities without access to eye care by training Eye Care Practitioners; establishing optometry schools, vision centers, and optical labs; delivering eye exams and low/no-cost eyeglasses. Since 2008, CooperVision has helped OGS raise more than $4.9 million dollars to support their critical mission.

Again this year, CooperVision offered its customers in the U.S. and Canada an opportunity to redirect their product rebates to OGS’ annual fundraising campaign. With facilitation by CooperVision, rebate donations accounted for $188,265 of the initiative’s total, while CooperVision’s World Sight Day Challenge raised an additional $118,192 from employees globally.

“Almost everyone in the world has or will need vision correction in their lifetime, yet more than a billion people worldwide do not have access to basic eye care,” 1 2 said Simon Seshadri, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing & Life Cycle Management. “Whether it’s through donating time, scientific and clinical expertise, supporting ECPs grow their practices, or financial contributions, it is our duty as an ongoing Global Partner to OGS to do our part to help people in need reach their full potential through the gift of sight.”

In 2023, CooperVision participated in OGS’ annual rundraising campaign through a series of regional and global initiatives. These events included a photo contest, guest speaker events, luncheons, a pop-up ice cream stand, homemade waffle sale, and others, such as:

  • Strikes for Sight. Keeping with a long-standing tradition to raise money and awareness for the cause, CooperVision’s Research & Development team based in Pleasanton, Calif., hosted a “Strikes for Sight” bowling event, during which employees pledged to make donations per strike. Ultimately, 102 strikes were bowled in the two-hour period, with each employee donating between $25.50 and $102.
  • Cake Sale and Fun Run. Fundraising in Liege, Belgium, included a local “fun run” and cake sale for employees. Both efforts were successful, building camaraderie in tandem with needed funding for OGS.
  • Charity Miles. Encouraging employee wellness while raising funds for OGS, CooperVision leveraged the Charity Miles fitness app, resulting in $10,589 from participants who walked, ran, or biked by participants during the campaign. Steps were financially sponsored by donors as well as CooperVision.
  • Vision Screenings. CooperVision organized free vision screenings around the world that not only built awareness around the importance of healthy eye care habits, but also served as an opportunity to raise funds to help support OGS efforts in other parts of the world.

“At the heart of our organization is a steadfast commitment to improving vision worldwide,” said Daniel McBride, Esq., Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at CooperCompanies and Board Member of Optometry Giving Sight. “We remain strong supporters of Optometry Giving Sight and their mission to build sustainable optometry infrastructure in underserved communities around the world to enable vision care for all.”

To learn more about the World Sight Day Challenge and how you can participate, visit givingsight.org/wsdc/

 

1 World Health Organization (WHO). World Report on Vision. October 2019.
2 The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. 2039 In Sight. Accessed February 5, 2024.

2023 Projects Supported

Jamaican children and Bangladesh eye examWith the Generous Support of our Donors in 2023:

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) awarded the following 2023 grants totaling more than $930,000 to partner organizations in support of self-sustaining initiatives that address preventable vision impairment and blindness for people of all ages around the world. This life-changing work would not be possible without your support.

Over the last 20 years, OGS has

  • Awarded more than 180 grants for primary eye care services to more than 8 million people
  • Funded the training of more than 14,000 optometrists and eye care personnel
  • Established more than 130 vision centers in underserved areas of the world
  • Served individuals of all ages in more than 40 countries

 

2023 Grants

 

Mobile Technology to Improve Pediatric Vision Care Worldwide
App Standardizes Care and Collects Vital Data

Grantee: Berkeley Vision, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

The grant awarded to Berkeley Vision will result in the development of a powerful smartphone/tablet app which will enable standardized processes and data acquisition for vision screening and eye care for children from ages four to 10. The app will enable all children to be screened in a relatively automated way, with the assistance of minimally trained personnel. It will also provide a standardized approach to prescribing, referral and follow-up care, and will record data for analysis, quality assurance and monitoring compliance.

When completed, the app will be implemented initially at The African Eye Institute and the India Vision Institute. It will ultimately be made freely available to children’s vision programs worldwide. An ongoing and sustainable initiative, the project is estimated to eventually benefit 500,000 young people globally.

 

Expanding Optometry Training in Vietnam
New equipment and Clinical Space Will Result in 2,000 Patients Served Monthly

Grantee: Brien Holden Vision Foundation

Optometry Giving Sight continues to support a five-year initiative by the Brien Holden Foundation (BHF) to increase the number of credentialed Vietnamese optometrists to serve the country’s estimated seven to 10 million individuals whose poor vision significantly impacts their quality of life. (In 2014, there were only three optometrists – all trained outside of Vietnam – to serve the country’s population at that time of 93 million.)

Since that time, BHF, OGS and other partners have supported the establishment of two academic optometry programs – the first at the University of Medicine Pham Ngoc Thach and the second at Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital. The grant will be used to replace and purchase equipment for the existing and new academic vision centers (AVC) at the hospital. The AVCs provide optometry students and residents with the clinical experience they need for comprehensive training, while providing vital vision care and services to Vietnamese residents in the area.

The Foundation projects that the purchase of the optometry equipment – and space afforded by the new AVC – will double to 30 the number of students each month who are able to gain the vital clinical competencies needed for their training and education. It is estimated that the project will enable students and graduates to serve approximately 2,000 patients monthly, with 1,000 of them being children.

 

Supporting the Growth of Optometry in Malawi
SEE-Can Project Expands Clinical Space

Grantee: Canadian Vision Care

In 2014 OGS helped support the establishment of the Mzuzu University Optometry Program to begin to address the critical shortage of vision care in Malawi. Since that time, the number of students enrolled in the program has tripled.

An Academic Vision Center facility developed in rural Rumphi has served as the school’s only facility for students to gain vital clinical experience. However, the significant growth of the Optometry Program has resulted in additional clinical opportunities being needed for students.

The grant will enable Canadian Vision Care to refurbish Sea Can shipping containers as SEE CAN clinics outfitted with necessary equipment, supplies and training materials. The clinics will be shipped to health centers in the country, where students can participate in clinical experiences under the oversight of credentialed optometrists. It is anticipated that the addition of these new clinical sites will benefit approximately 50,000 residents of Malawi.

 

Malawi Optometry Student Numbers Triple
Student Vision Kits Help Fill the Need

Grantee: Canadian Vision Care

Malawi’s Mzuzu University Optometry Program began in 2014 with support from OGS. Today, there are triple the number of students at the school than when it first opened its doors. Now in its thirteenth year, the program is in need of updated and additional equipment for training.

The grant will allow for the purchase of new, vital equipment and resources to assist students in vision screening protocols. These student kits will include various exam and diagnostic equipment and materials as well as a video about vision screening best practices to maximize their clinical experiences in preparation for becoming optometrists to serve their communities

 

Scaling Up School Eye Health in Liberia
New Program Established for Training Optometric Techs

Grantee: EYElliance

With only 10 ophthalmic technicians to serve the 5.4 million citizens of Liberia, there is a vital need to expand the profession. The grant – the second that OGS has provided to EYElliance — will be used to establish a new optometry technician program at the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts to help sustain their national school eye health program. The aim is to reach 12 of Liberia’s 15 counties with school eye health programming to ensure that more than 80% of all Liberian children enrolled in public primary and secondary school have access to appropriate eye care. The training program is being established in conjunction with the LV Prasad Eye Institute and the Liberia Ministry of Health, which will assume responsibility for the program in 2025. It is estimated that 110,000 children will benefit from the program.

 

Improving Students’ Vision in Mexico
Portable Diagnostic Sets Allow for In-School Vision Screenings

Grantee: Fundación Ver Bien para Aprender Mejor (See Well to Learn Better Foundation)

The grant allows Ver Bien to continue its important work of diagnosing and addressing vision issues in the estimated 13 percent of elementary and high school students in Mexico who suffer from refractive errors. In addition to funding eye exams and prescription glasses for students, the grant will allow for the replacement of old, worn portable diagnostic sets used by teams of optometrists to perform in-school exams during the 2023-24 academic year. An estimated 211,000 children will benefit during the time frame.

 

Expanding Pediatric Optometry in Mozambique
Academic Training and Clinical Experience Will Result in More Services for Children

Grantee: Light for the World International

Since mid-2018, only one hospital in Mozambique has offered comprehensive pediatric eye care. Although optometry training offered at a public university in the country is helping to increase the number of optometrists available, the current training does not focus on children’s eye care.

The grant will help address the training gap by providing an 8-week program for optometrists treating pediatric patients. The program will provide academic training and clinical experience (including equipment) at two of Mozambique’s three main referral hospitals with child eye health units. Optometrists who undergo the training will have the opportunity to train others in the future, thus helping to ensure the sustainability of the nationwide program.

 

Expanding Clinical Training Capabilities in Ghana
New Hospital Branch to Enable Students to Learn While Serving the Community

Grantee: Operation Eyesight (Watborg Eye Services)

The grant is being used to establish a branch of Watborg Eye Services in Accra City Centre to provide primary, secondary and tertiary care to an estimated 4,000 low-income patients, in the first year alone, who otherwise would have to travel a long way to the central region of the country for eye care. Additionally, the facility will serve as a clinical training site for optometry students from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and University of Cape Coast. Funding of the project will facilitate the sustained future growth of optometric and vision care services in Ghana.

 

Teachers are Frontline Vision Screeners in Zambia
Students Receive Exams, Eyeglasses and Follow-Up Care

Grantee: Operation Eyesight

In conjunction with Zambia’s Ministry of General Education, Operation Eyesight continues its work to provide free exams, eyeglasses and vision care to children in Zambian schools. Through this program, the organization trains school teachers in primary eye care screening strategies to identify children with visual impairment.

Through local, national and international partnerships, students are provided with eye exams and custom prescription eyeglasses if necessary and are referred for additional diagnostics and treatment if required. Being able to see well means that students are much more likely to be successful in school and in life.

 

Improving Access to Eye Care in the Dominican Republic
More Than 135,000 Dominicans to Receive Exams and Necessary Care

Grantee: Restoring Vision

Optometry Giving Sight continues to support this expanding program in which students from the Dominican Republic’s School of Optometry, in conjunction with Restoring Vision staff, travel to each province of the country to provide vision screenings and eyeglasses to people of all ages who need them. By the end of the grant year, 135,000 people with presbyopia and myopia will have received the vital care they need to improve their daily lives.

 

Providing Vision Care for Jamaican Students
Training and Added School Partnerships Help Jamaican Children See

Grantee: See Better.Learn Better Jamaica

In Jamaica, the public healthcare system does not provide access to refractive care. There is only one optometrist for every 165,000 residents, leaving the country’s population with little access to eye exams, eyeglasses and other corrective measures. This is especially true of western Jamaica, a rural area that is far from the urbanized areas of Montego Bay and Kingston, where healthcare services are more readily available.

In 2015, the See Better.Learn Better initiative began providing long-term eye care free of charge for young students through partnerships with local schools. During its seven-year history (the initiative was on hiatus during the COVID years of 2021 and 2022) the organization has provided annual eye exams and prescription glasses, if necessary, to more than 8,500 students ages three to 12. If their prescription changes or their growing bodies require new eyeglass frames, they will receive new ones at no cost through their first six years of school.

The grant is being used to include three additional schools to the See Better.Learn Better initiative, which will result in vital eye care services for an additional 1,200 to 1,500 students this year. A portion of the grant will also be used to establish an optometry care program at the area’s closest referral hospital, Bustamente Children’s Hospital in Kingston. Through this effort, the organization will serve approximately 500 pediatric patients this year who have been referred to the hospital for follow-up diagnostics and treatment.

Considering that 80 percent of a student’s learning is vision based, this initiative is truly changing the lives of students and building a stronger, more hopeful future for the country of Jamaica.

 

Institute Will Add to Number of Optometrists in Nepal
Local Residents Will Gain Access to Vital Eye Care Services

Grantee: Seva Foundation

Although there are three optometric training programs in Nepal, there is not one in Madhesh Province, the country’s most densely populated province with more than 6.1 million residents. In total, approximately 73 students graduate each year with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in optometry. Currently, there are 250 optometrists registered with the Nepal Optometry Society, only some of whom practice within the country.

The grant provides funding for the Seva Foundation to work with the Government of Nepal and a hospital in Madhesh to establish an optometry training institute whose students and faculty will provide vital vision exams and eyeglasses to residents of the province – individuals whose circumstances prevent them from traveling to other areas of the country for eye care.

The first cadre of students will begin in April 2024. When fully operational, the institute will graduate 10 optometrists per year, helping the country achieve its goal of having approximately 583 practicing optometrists within its borders.

 

Optometrist Training for Special Olympics Athletes
Expanding Training for Treating Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Grantee: Special Olympics

Optometry Giving Sight continues to support Special Olympics and its athletes by providing this grant for an ongoing program to expand training for eye care practitioners and optometry students about treating individuals with intellectual disabilities. In 2022 — in Kenya and the U.S. combined – 1,185 eye care practitioners and 176 optometry students participated in hands-on, live online or asynchronous online training. And, 3,258 Special Olympics athletes were provided vision screenings as well as eyeglasses, sports glasses and referrals as necessary.

 

Bangladeshis Continue to Benefit from Vision Center Services
Teachers Learn to Spot Vision Impairment in Students

Grantee: Symbiosis Foundation

Since 2006, the Symbiosis Foundation has been operating its SPECS (Symbiosis Primary Eye Care Service) Program in rural and remote areas of Bangladesh. During that time, the Foundation has established eight vision centers throughout the country to provide eye exams, glasses and referral services to disadvantaged residents.

The grant will be used to fund the continuing operations of the centers, which are expected to serve 45,000 patients, 30,000 of whom are children. Recognizing the tremendous value of educating communities about eye care, the Foundation will also use the grant to conduct eye health training for 15,000 individuals. Among these will be 200 teachers, who will learn how to identify possible vision impairment issues among their students.

 

Replacement Equipment to Boost Capacity in Mexico Clinic
Refurbished Exam Rooms to Serve Up to 1,000 Patients Per Screening Event

Grantee: The Guerrero Crystal Foundation, Inc.

In Mexico, 61 percent of the population suffers from vision impairment. And, 40 percent of them also have mobility challenges due to poor eye care.

In the state of Chihuahua, the Guerrero Clinic has provided free eye care for 40 years to the indigent Mexicans, Mennonites and Tarahumara Indians in the state and surrounding area. Much of the care – including ocular health seminars, eye exams, glasses, cataract surgery, and retinal procedures – is provided by volunteer optometrists and optometry students.

Only three of the eight exam rooms at the clinic are used due to a lack of usable equipment, which severely limits the number of patients who can be seen during the numerous clinics held throughout the year.

The grant will be used to replace the equipment in five of the exam lanes and to replace the 20-year-old edger used to make eyeglasses. Refurbishing the rooms will increase the capacity of the clinic to serve 1,000 individuals during each clinic.

 

Freestanding Vision Center to Serve Remote Area of Uganda
Scholarships Will Build Optometry’s Presence in Bwindi

Grantee: The Hope Alliance

In Uganda, seven percent of the population suffers from moderate to severe vision impairment. Yet, there is a severe shortage of eye care services due to the lack of facilities and trained professionals. There is only one ophthalmologist in the country for every 1.5 million residents. Many individuals surrounding the remote town of Bwindi – impoverished members of indigenous groups – must walk hours daily to collect water and firewood. And, access to basic health services are often a day’s walk away or longer.

The Bwindi Community Hospital has converted a 273-square-foot shipping container into a makeshift eye care center for the 120,000 citizens of the area. But its small size, limited equipment, and scarcity of optometry professionals meet only a small percentage of the need.

The Hope Alliance, in conjunction with hospital leadership and other partners, will help build a freestanding vision center to expand and improve the eye care services available to the community. The grant from Optometry Giving Sight will be used to: Create scholarships for optometry and ophthalmic students; Furnish the clinic with the necessary equipment to diagnose, treat and refer patients and; Provide support to the hospital in creating a sustainable business model to ensure the clinic’s short-term and long-term success and growth.

 

Optometry Training in Haiti Continues
More Optometrists Result in Better Care for Those in Need

Grantee: University of Montreal

With only seven optometrists to serve the 11 million people of Haiti, OGS and partnering organizations helped establish the Haiti School of Optometry in 2017. In addition to the school, the partners established an Academic Vision Center to improve optometric training and care for local residents.

Since that time, OGS has continued to support the project, whose 5-year program now includes approximately 60 students. Despite numerous setbacks including, safety and security issues, political instability and lack of robust technology, the University is scheduled to graduate its first group of optometrists soon. But, there is additional work to be completed before this can occur.

The grant from OGS is being used to support the continued development of the school in partnership with the Université de Montréal, Brien Holden Foundation and Université d’Etat d’Haiti.

 

Building the Capacity of Optometry Associations
Expanding Professional Development in Ethiopia, Ghana and Zambia

Grantee: Vision Action

Ongoing continuing education is paramount to maintaining knowledge, skills and professional certification and registration with the goal of improved patient care. Yet, for optometrists in Ethiopia, Ghana and Zambia, professional development opportunities are hard to find and/or access.

Although each country has its own national optometric association (OA), all are at varying stages of organizational development. The grant will enable the associations, in conjunction with Vision Action and other partners, to increase their capacity to better serve their members through a variety of strategic and operational activities.

From helping raise awareness about the vital role of optometry in public health, to conducting strategic planning, and establishing ongoing continuing education programs, the grant will help elevate the level of professionalism of optometry in the countries and, ultimately, improve the quality of optometric care for patients.

 

Primary Care Optometry Education in Guatemala
Advanced Training Will Result in Better Care for Nation’s Poor

Grantee: Vision for the Poor

The Guatemala National Eye Care Plan calls for ending treatable blindness in the country by 2023. Efforts to meet this ambitious goal have included the establishment of ten vision centers and three regional eye hospitals. Two more vision centers are under construction.

A wide range of optometric services are readily available in the country to people who can afford it. But, the poorest of the nation’s residents do not have easy access – or any access at all – to eye care professionals who can provide the full range of diagnostic, prescriptive and treatment care that they need. There is only one organization within Guatemala providing these services to impoverished communities. However, its optometrists are trained only to perform refractions and prescribe eyeglasses or other visual aids.

Vision for the Poor will use The grant in partnership with other organizations to offer advanced education to 18 optometrists so they can serve as primary care optometrists trained to recognize, diagnose and treat more complex cases. Currently, patients with these issues must be referred to one of the limited number of ophthalmologists available who work with members of impoverished communities in Guatemala. A portion of the grant will also be used to establish six new outreach teams to provide vision care services within the community-at-large.

 

Serving and Learning
Professional Development and Direct Vision Care Will Have Global Impact

Grantee: VOSH International, Inc.

The partnership between VOSH International and Optometry Giving Sight is long-standing. Both organizations exist to eliminate preventable blindness and vision impairment throughout the world by introducing and strengthening the profession of optometry where it is most needed.

The grant will be used in various locations globally to support the continuing sustainable development of eye care services via education and optometric service. By providing training, networking, mentorship and patient care, the grant will positively impact VOSH chapters and members and the people they serve wherever they are.

 

Leading Optometry Forward
Course Offered on Leadership and Advocacy

Grantee: World Council of Optometry

Optometry Giving Sight’s mission is to end preventable blindness and vision impairment by developing and strengthening the optometry profession worldwide. Throughout the organization’s history, OGS has worked with partners to create sustainable education programs whose students and graduates globally, to serve the communities in which they learn and live.

But, as optometry takes its place in developing countries, there is a new demand for leaders in the field who can shepherd the profession’s growth and strengthen its role in adopting standards of care, creating professional development, provide robust advocacy and effectively lead the industry forward. As a result of this need, the World Council of Optometry is creating the OPAL Program: Optometry Program for Advocacy Leadership.

The grant from OGS will fund the delivery and implementation of this year’s OPAL Program, a 12-week course that will provide participants with information, materials, and knowledge in order to identify and strengthen personal leadership skills and develop and implement an optometry advocacy program. This is the second year for the annual course.