Have you got some old presciption glasses lying around the house? Kirsty Tuxford finds out how a local optician is using them to change people’s lives in the Third World

Thousands of people in developing countries are in need of your old glasses. Believe it or not, the old specs that you are probably hanging onto despite the fact that they are never worn any more, are vital to people with sight problems who have no access to eye care specialists.

Who are ‘Vision without Frontiers’ and what do they do?
The voluntary organisation ‘Visión sin Fronteras’ (Vision without Frontiers), is working to bring sight to less privileged people in developing countries such as India, Namibia, Mozambique and Morocco. The president of ‘Vision without Frontiers’, Isabel Signes, who runs an optician’s in Calpe, explained how the organisation has grown since 1998, when there was only herself and one other contact, Vicente Ferrer, who lived in India. Together they worked to attend to almost 500 patients, administering eye tests and treatment where necessary. Due to the kindness and empathy of the volunteers who have joined and offered their services free in the countries where they were needed, ‘Vision without Frontiers’ has since assisted thousands of patients. Following a talk that Isabel gave in Madrid at the opticians’ congress she was approached by many individuals interested in helping and since then the organisation has grown through word of mouth.

The projects
In order to assist those in need, the process is long and sometimes complicated as there is  red tape to overcome. Much of the work begins months before any of the volunteers even set foot in the designated country.
Once the team of specialists has flown to their destination they will begin immediately administering eye tests for the villagers. Local volunteers are also valuable as they facilitate with translating and organising. Time is of the essence and Isabel explains that she will only have a couple of weeks to complete her work and each optician will attend to around 50 patients per day. While in comparison, at her opticians in Calpe, she will attend to six or seven people.
Cataracts are one of the main problems encountered, but are easy to remove with a simple operation. Cataracts that are left unattended will lead to blindness, and consequently problems with learning in children, and problems working for adults. Therefore the aim is to treat all patients requiring cataract removal so that they are able to continue normal lives, and can fend for themselves and their families.
Furthermore, it is imperative that adequate glasses are provided to the people. Isabel cites a case where a seven-year old boy had cataracts removed and was given glasses to help him see well enough to attend school. When Isabel visited him again, it emerged that two years ago he had broken his glasses, and had been unable to see well enough without them to attend school, illustrating the importance of providing an adequate supply of glasses and on site workshop.
‘Vision without Frontiers’ ensures that such workshops are set up at each location they visit, and someone is trained to stay and run the workshop – continuing to make glasses and attending to the patients needs. The cause of many problems stems from poor nutrition, poor sanitary conditions and the desert climate, highlighting the need for better facilities all round.

Financial aid
Funding is always needed.
Once a cataract has been removed, a new lens is placed on the eye, and with the cost of one new lens reaching almost 38 euros (without tax), the need for financial aid is obvious. Donations therefore, are paramount, as without them none of the required equipment could be purchased. Old glasses can always be re-used and ‘Vision without Frontiers’ have received donations of second-hand glasses from big companies that would otherwise have thrown the glasses away. The town halls of Benissa and Calpe have generously donated money towards projects that are run in Mozambique. However, it is essential that donations continue, in the form of money and old glasses for the good work go on.
Isabel runs Federoptics in Calpe, and explains that anyone who wishes to donate old glasses can drop them off there. “People are reluctant to throw away old glasses, as they have had them so long. Even if they are no use any more!”
When asked what would normally happen to used glasses, she explains, “Nothing happens to old glasses! It is far better to donate them so others can use them”.
With a trip to Cuba eminent, Isabel continues to work for the good of those less fortunate, and says:
“I feel very lucky. I have a lot of things, success, my business…I am very grateful to be doing what I like… Helping these people is just my little contribution.”
With this philosophy, let’s hope that the volunteers of ‘Vision without Frontiers’ can inspire others to help their wonderful cause.

To obtain a form detailing how to make contributions, call in at Federoptics Calle Corbeta, 6, Calpe or telephone 96 583 20 80
Donations can be transferred to the Deutsch Bank a/c no. 0019 0248 77 4010006271. View the Vision without Frontiers website on www.visiosensefronteres.org