OneSight announced in 2014 it will expand its sustainable programs and conduct 50 charitable Vision Clinics in 14 countries. More than 1,100 doctors and trained volunteers will provide eye exams, high quality eyewear and sunglasses to adults and children in underserved communities around the world.
Expanding Charitable Vision Clinics to New Countries for OneSight
Since 1988, OneSight has impacted more than 8.5 million lives across 40 countries. In 2014, OneSight will return to China, India, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, South Africa and Thailand to conduct Vision Clinics and will expand programming to Brazil, Indonesia and Vietnam. OneSight will also continue regional vision care programs in Australia, Canada, China, South Africa and the United States.
Across North America, OneSight will host 30 Regional and Vision Van Clinics focused on providing students with much-needed vision care in 18 states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Utah, Texas, Wisconsin and one Canadian province, Manitoba.
Expanding Sustainable Vision Care Models in Africa and North America
In 2014, OneSight will also expand its Community and School-based Sustainable Vision Care Programs. Based on the success of its 2013 pilot program in Farafenni, OneSight will open three more permanent Vision Centers and a central manufacturing lab in The Gambia, a small country in West Africa that previously had one optometrist to serve a population of 1.8 million. OneSight will also expand on the success of the OneSight Vision Center at Oyler School in Cincinnati, Ohio, with at least four more school-based OneSight Vision Centers in New York, California and other communities in 2014.
“Our 25th anniversary marks us with responsibility,” said Dr. Jason Singh, O.D., and Executive Director of OneSight. “Based on our experience, we believe OneSight has a mandate to help solve the global vision care crisis affecting 563 million worldwide. We will continue to evolve the charitable programs that have impacted 8.5 million lives since 1988 while applying our expertise to scale new sustainable vision care models that will outlive us all.”
As part of its global philanthropic efforts, Luxottica sponsors employee participation to help staff OneSight programs. Through a competitive selection process, Luxottica employees apply to volunteer their professional skills and expertise to give back through OneSight. “In 2014, more than 1,100 Luxottica doctors, affiliated doctors and skilled employees representing 40 countries will volunteer to help staff OneSight Clinics and Sustainable Initiatives,” said Singh. “Our patients receive the very best care because of the passionate and talented professionals and industry partners who volunteer their skills to hand-deliver quality eye care and eyewear.”