Success stories
Maria
Maria Ernesta Correia (left), 49 years old, had never had an eye examination. She walked to Suai Hospital by herself and met Peter Bell, an optometrist from WA, Australia, who was volunteering with a ProVision Optometry Team ... > more
Ana
Optometry Giving Sight has provided funding to VOSH International for a study to determine the incidence of presbyopia and refractive error in Nicaragua. The information collected will assist in the establishment of permanent eye clinics and will help many more people like Ana ... > more
Kelum
While Niroshan and the other newly-trained Vision Technicians examine patients (see new era in vision), three other Sri Lankans continue their studies in India on the full four-year bachelor’s of Optometry degree. In an email, one of the trainee optometrists, Kelum, wrote ... > more
Saturnnina
“I’m not sure when I’ll see you again. Maybe in a month–but whenever it is I’ll see you clearly!” said 94 year old Saturnnina Flores Quintanilla as she left the eye clinic in Nicaragua. Saturnnina Flores Quintanilla, a very lively, vocal, and energetic 94 year-old woman accompanied by ... > more
Adrian
At 14 Adrian is the oldest of five kids who struggle to survive, living in a one room 5x4 mud-over-bamboo home in a shanty town. Adrian doesn’t have a dad and his mum tries to make ends meet with whatever work she ... > more
Noprianus
At 11 years old Noprianus (left) had spent his young life being able to see just 12 cm in front of him. Peter Lewis diagnosed him as a -8.00D – he was legally blind. Peter describes the moment Noprianus’ eyes > more
Jose da Costa
Jose da Costa thought he was blind, and he was – his uncorrected refractive error rendered him functionally blind. Fifteen years ago Jose had a cataract operation and was left aphakic, with his > more
Mr Mgubo
Watch as 80-year-old Mr Mgubo receives glasses and sees clearly for the first time in his life. During a routine eye examination at an ICEE Outreach Clinic in Tongaat, South Africa in March this year, Professor Brien Holden > more
John Mgalamadzi
John Mgalamadzi was 15 years old and attended the Bangwe Primary School in Limbe, a town near the Malawian capital, Blantyre, when we met him. John was part of an integrated schools program for children who are vision > more
Thokozani
Thokozani was 13 years old when we met him. He attended the Lunzu Primary School where his academic performance was below average.“I have problems at school with vision when I sit far away from the chalkboard, and the problems I have at home are when someone is sitting far away.” > more
Emmanuel
When a team of optometrists from Sight Savers International (SSI) and International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE) visited a village in Malawi, Africa, they found 120 children in a program for the blind. However, after being examined, they found that only seven of the > more
Vanitha
There are millions of children and adults in Sri Lanka who are functionally blind because they don’t have access to an eye examination and a pair of glasses. Vanitha is one of the lucky ones who can now see thanks to a pair of glasses she received during a visit by ICEE Optometrist Nina Tahhan > more
James Mkhwanazi
In March this year, a team of Optometrists, program workers and international staff members from the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), with the aid of local district health services and representatives of Optometry Giving Sight, made a field visit to the small informal settlement, Magwaveni > more
Florence
Florence is a 65-year-old mother of eight, living in rural South Africa, who had never had her eyes examined. Florence’s husband had been shot dead in front of the family many years ago and two of her children had also recently died leaving her to look after five grandchildren > more
