Noprianus
Credit Peter Lewis
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 focused with his new glasses, “His eyes lit up and I told him he now needed to study hard to become an Optometrist or a Doctor so he can help his people”.
For most people living in Sumba, an island in West Timor, a pair of glasses is out of their financial reach.
Although there are limited vision care services on the island most residents cannot afford to access them. In August ProVision optometrists, Peter Lewis and Peter Stewart, participated in the first Optometry Giving Sight funded vision care delivery trip to Sumba working alongside the Royal Australian College of Surgeons and The Sumba Foundation.
Following on from the success of the East Timor Eye Program the long term aim of the Sumba program is to not only deliver vision care services but also to train local eye care professionals and help develop the infrastructure which will enable access to high quality vision to everyone.
On this first trip 470 spectacles and more than 80 pairs of sunglasses were distributed and will help change the lives of not only the recipients but also of their families.
Partners:
ProVision Optometry Teams (PVOT)
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)
Sumba Foundation
