Challenge to help eye care

BLIND and visually impaired women and children in third world countries will get a helping hand from this year’s World Sight Day Challenge.
The challenge, which runs today (Thursday), aims to raise funds for Optometry Giving Sight, a charity which helps people in third world countries receive an eye examination and, if needed, glasses.
David West from David and Carol Wests’ Eyecare Plus in Cranbourne said the challenge was also aimed at raising awareness about projects that enhance vision care for women who are blind or vision impaired because they cannot access an eye exam and glasses.
“Most blindness in the world is due, not to disease, but the lack of spectacle correction,” Dr West said. “I suppose it emphasises for us the ease with which good vision care is available in our country, and how the simple provision of what we consider some-thing quite basic, and often take for granted, can easily improve the quality of life for a minimal cost.”
Dr West said Eyecare Plus would donate an amount from each examination and a sizeable donation on behalf of staff. Patients can also attend the practice to make a donation, or visit www.givingsight.org for more information.