Eye Q Optical marks World Sight Day

Local optical services providers, Eye Q Optical, is reaffirming its dedication to better eye health and vision care for children through its flagship CSR initiative, ‘Mission Vision’. This year, in honour of World Sight Day, recognised on October 10, Eye Q Optical will continue its efforts, aligning with the World Sight Day global theme of ‘Love Your Eyes’ which focuses on the unique needs of children’s vision and eye health.

World Sight Day, observed annually on the second Thursday in October, is an opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting one’s eyes and vision, raise awareness of vision impairment and blindness, and promote eye and vision care. This observance is also an opportunity to debunk myths regarding vision and move towards a world where all children are free from social stigma associated with wearing spectacles or other corrective interventions for their eyes and vision, a release outlined.

This year’s theme spotlights the importance of eye care in young people and inspires children everywhere to love their eyes. Globally, there are 450 million children who cannot get the treatment they need for a sight condition. Addressing vision impairment can enhance a child’s educational opportunities, boost their self-confidence, and make playing and socialising easier. Something as simple as getting glasses can help a child unleash potential and thrive.

Mission Vision is an initiative developed to help children who are less fortunate. Eye Q Optical over the last 10 years has screened thousands of children and provided hundreds of pairs of eyewear to children at no charge, with the help of its ongoing frame and lens supply partners Marchon Eyewear, Kouture Ventures and Hoya Lens UK.

“At Eye Q Optical we pride ourselves on giving back to the community, especially to our youth. One of the key ways we do this is through our Mission Vision initiative. As we celebrate and align with the goals of World Sight Day, there’s nothing more rewarding than witnessing a child put on their first pair of glasses and light up with excitement as they see the world clearly for the first time. It’s particularly heartwarming when we receive reports from schools about children who were underperforming academically but have now improved, simply because they can see better and more clearly. As we recognise and celebrate World Sight Day, it reaffirms our commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of these children,” shared Dr Aron Wohl, CEO and lead optometrist at Eye Q Optical.

UNDIAGNOSED VISION PROBLEMS

The Mission Vision initiative has helped children from institutions such as SOS Children Village, Silvia Foot Basic School, Allman Town Primary, Seaview Gardens Primary, Maxfield Children Home, and Wortley’s Girls Home. It recently visited the McAuley Primary School in St Catherine.

Claudia Byer, principal of McAuley Primary, shared her experience and thanked the team for its support. She said:

“Early detection is crucial, especially when it comes to eye health. In a school setting, many children are thought to be struggling academically, when in reality, they may simply have undiagnosed vision problems that hinder their learning. As a principal, I’ve seen children who are nearsighted or have other vision issues, but their parents or guardians either cannot afford eye care or are unaware of the problem altogether. That’s why we are incredibly grateful to Eye Q Optical for offering these screenings free of charge. Their generosity is invaluable to our students and I would like to sincerely thank the team for their thoroughness and kindness in conducting these screenings. Their efforts will undoubtedly make a significant difference in the lives of our children.”

Karen Scarlett, client care coordinator, Eye Q Optical, who assisted in the screening at McAuley Primary School, outlined the process the team follows when identifying students with eye care needs. “We screen the children, and if we identify any issues, we provide them with a letter for their parents, instructing them to bring the child to the branch for a free consultation with the doctor. If the child needs glasses, they will receive them at no cost as well. Myopia is quite common at this stage, so we pay close attention to that, along with any other potential eye problems.”

Since its inception in 2013, Mission Vision has transformed the lives of countless Jamaican children by offering free eye screenings and eyewear to those who otherwise might lack access to essential vision care, the release noted.