Did you know? Homeless people in the UK have 7 times more visual impairment than the general population.
Our belief and mission at Essilor is to improve lives by improving sight, over the festive season we had the privilege in supporting
Vision Care for Homeless People.
The charity was founded in 2003 and their aim is “to preserve, protect and promote the ocular health of homeless and vulnerable people in the UK who are unwilling or unable to access mainstream services available through the NHS”. Essilor has been working with the charity since 2011 and believe in supporting the charity with their aim and aspirations “to make a difference to as many homeless and vulnerable people”.
The clinics where run by volunteers from the charity who worked in conjunction with Crisis at Christmas. They had a busy festive season with some 312 people having their eyes examined at the various clinics in London.
York-based Consultant ophthalmologist Jan van der Hoek, who each year comes to London with his wife to volunteer at the clinics, said 32 people had been referred to Moorfields or the Western Eye Hospital for further investigation and treatment of chronic conditions presenting, but one patient needed immediate attention
“One chap came in with a retinal tear and a bleed to the eye. He needed laser treatment which we organised and he was treated immediately. He was able to stay at the Crisis centre for the week, so that he could recover. There were also some glaucoma patients, some of whom had already lost some of their vision so they should now be in the system for treatment,” said Jan.
Ready readers were the answer for 75 patients but another 241 are now having specs produced to their prescription by Essilor, powers ranged from -12.00D to +10.25D.
We are delighted to have supported this worthy cause through the festive period and hope the lenses and glazing brings better vision for the patients who were tested.