Clear Vision, New Confidence
Grantee: African Eye Institute
Each year, donations to Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) enable the organization to fund projects globally that provide immediate eyecare to those in need today, and expand optometry so vision care is available for years to come.
For the students at Umyezo Wama Apile Primary School in rural Grabouw, access to eye care is challenging. The nearest public eye‑health services are hours away, leaving many children with undetected vision problems and limited learning potential.
That changed when the African Eye Institute’s One School at a Time (OSaaT) outreach clinic team arrived. Optometrists provided full exams to 117 children who failed an initial screening, prescribing glasses for 62, many of whom had high, previously unnoticed prescriptions. Teachers said they had long suspected the children were experiencing vision challenges but had no way to help. OSaaT, supported by an OGS grant, delivered the care they needed.
When the team returned to the school to dispense glasses, they saw life changing moments: children reading clearly, recognizing faces, and smiling at a world made much clearer because of their new eyeglasses. One educator said, “OSaaT has brought hope to our children.”
In total, the grant will enable for eye exams, eyeglasses, and follow-up care for 20,000 underserved students in 25 South African schools. Additionally, more than 240 teachers, screeners and optometrists will be trained to identify and treat pediatric vision problems.