Dubai optometrist asks for donations of eyeglasses

Dubai: Almost 200 million people worldwide are in need of eyeglasses, according to the World Health Organisation.

But many residents of poorer nations, in Africa for example, cannot afford even basic necessities, let alone a pair of brand new glasses that can cost the equivalent of up to three months of their wages.

Dr. Soroya Janmohammad, manager of Capital Opticians in Dubai, regularly conducts free "eye camps" throughout a network of orphanages in the developing world to help people who suffer from vision loss.

This month, the Kenyan national along with a UK team of qualified optometrists at Capital Opticians, will be collecting used eyeglasses for donation to orphanages in Kenya. Donations are accepted throughout the year.

Readers who have used prescription or non-prescription pairs of old glasses they no longer need, can donate them to the team.

The eye care group of volunteers will also provide free vision testing, refraction and eye health examinations in Kenya. Those who need vision correction will be given a pair of glasses that match or come very close to their prescription at no cost.

"Poor vision affects people's quality of life. For children, vision loss can lead to failure at school, delays in development, learning disabilities and even juvenile delinquency," said Dr Janmohammad.

According to The Lions Club International Foundation, 50 per cent of children in institutions for the blind in Africa would be able to read normal or large print if they had the correct eye glasses.

"For adults, uncorrected vision can lead to unemployment and the inability to support a family," said Dr Janmohammad.

"Seniors with vision loss are limited in performing daily activities, depriving them of an adequate lifestyle."

Reportedly, almost four million pairs of unused glasses land straight in the garbage bin each year in North America, while some mothers in poor areas cannot even see their children's faces clearly.

"Medical missions often call their eye care facilities joy clinics because of the happiness eyeglass donation can bring," said Dr. Janmohammad.

Her regular eye camps and at least 15 years of experience have seen Dr Janmohammad working in the UK, Kenya, Turkey and India.

How to make a difference

- Drop off your unwanted glasses or sunglasses at Capital Opticians, located on the ground floor of Al Fattan Shopping Mall, near Jumeirah Beach Residence.

- Even if your glasses are broken, they can still be highly valuable so do not throw them away.

- Children's glasses are especially needed.

- Both plastic and metal frames are accepted.

- The eyeglasses can be prescription or non-prescription, single vision, bifocals or progressive.