The LBJ Tropical Medical Center (LBJTMC) can now provide free reading glasses to patients at the Eye Clinic who need them.
This is made possible through a donation of 2,000 eye glasses from the OneSight Essilor Luxottia Foundation based in Australia.
The Foundation is dedicated to eliminating uncorrected poor vision within a generation through impactful philanthropy, partnerships, and raising awareness.
It regards good vision as a fundamental human right.
CEO of LBJ Hospital Dr. Akapusi Ledua said the reading glasses will be distributed at no cost to patients with visual impairments who are under the care of ophthalmologists at the Eye Clinic.
“Our ophthalmologists have verified that up to 40% of the patients suffer from visual impairments, and the timing of this donation could not have been more opportune.”
Dr. Ledua thanked the OneSight EssilorLuxottia Foundation for broadening its philanthropic endeavors to encompass the Pacific Region, including American Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Kiribati. A supply of 2,000 reading glasses of varying strengths has been made available.
“Recognizing that certain community members may be unaware of this initiative or
hesitant to use our eye clinic, the hospital is contemplating an outreach program in
which ophthalmologists would venture into the villages to ensure the direct allocation of these glasses to those in need,” said Dr. Ledua.
Wayne Tennent, the Director of Programming for the Middle East, Europe, and Asia Pacific at OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, stated that good vision is a fundamental human right.
“Unfortunately, 2.7 billion people have eyesight problems. We can make a difference in the community and the significant improvement in life that good vision brings, whether it’s a child in school or a mechanic in the community a simple pair of glasses will empower individuals to enhance their lives.
“One in three individuals fails to achieve their maximum potential, and corrective
eyewear can address 80 percent of these cases.”
