Eyeglasses are nothing short of a miracle. Invented in the 13th century, glasses have long improved our vision so we can lead happier and more productive lives. Join us to celebrate National Glasses Day through the eyes of children. People like you are making it possible for girls and boys everywhere to see clearly and reach their potential!
At Orbis, we work to create a world where everyone receives the eye care they need. Supporters like you help parents in communities around the world give their children a brighter future. That’s the power of your generosity! Enjoy these heartwarming stories of hope and transformation through the miracle of clear vision.
Sneha has a very clear vision of the career she wants when she’s older: a bank manager. We have no doubt that Sneha — with her new glasses — will achieve her goal. After all, she’s focused on her studies despite the teasing she receives from her peers about her glasses. Unfortunately, in places such as Sneha’s community in Nepal, wearing glasses carries a stigma. But Sneha is standing up for clear vision! She’s a wonderful role model for all children who need glasses to see clearly. Way to go, Sneha! We’re proud of you.
Four-year-old Saliou from Cameroon loves soccer, writing, and playing with his siblings. But his eyesight was so poor that he could not see very far and would fall over often. He even had to drop out of school. Thankfully, Saliou’s worried parents found out about the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital’s visit to the country (pre-COVID). The Orbis team performed surgery on Saliou to remove a cataract. Now, Saliou is back in school. His cool new glasses help him learn better and give him added joy to all his favorite activities!
Megha dreams of teaching English to children in Nepal. This 12-year-old girl is self-assured and wears her glasses proudly. But Megha wasn’t always this confident. She struggled with depth perception and had difficulty seeing the board at school. Megha had amblyopia — reduced vision in one eye that caused the eye to wander. Thanks to supporters, Megha benefited from Orbis’s REACH (Refractive Error Among Children) project. REACH aims to screen and treat school children who are in need of eye services. Now Megha’s dreams of a fulfilling career can come true!
You’d never know by looking at Khang in his snazzy glasses that he had two eye surgeries. But this 6-year-old boy from Vietnam was born with ptosis, a drooping upper eyelid. He was also diagnosed with strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes. If left untreated, both of these eye conditions can lead to blindness. Thankfully, Khang had sight-saving surgery on board the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital when it visited Vietnam in 2018. He had another surgery at a local Orbis partner hospital and, thanks to his glasses, can see the world clearly!
Rabi’s teacher was the first to notice his vision troubles. When she would ask this bright 7-year-old boy to read or write in class, he’d cry. Rabi admitted he didn’t understand the lessons because he couldn’t see well. Thankfully, an Orbis-supported screening camp was due to take place at the school. At the camp, Rabi was diagnosed with myopia (near-sightedness) and prescribed glasses. Now, wearing his new glasses, when Rabi’s teacher asks him to read or write in class, he proudly says, “I can do it!”
Many children in communities around the world do not have access to high-quality eye care — and they struggle needlessly. That’s why we need your help to give more children and their families the chance to live their lives with clear vision, independence, and dignity. We are grateful for supporters like you!
Thanks to your wonderful support our teams were able to give eye tests to 2.3 million children and prescribe more than 56,000 pairs of glasses to boys and girls like Megha, Rabi and Khang in 2020.
Your generosity and the hard work of our in-country teams means that even a global pandemic isn’t going to stop these children from reaching their full potential.
Happy National Glasses Day everyone!
Please help a child see their world clearly with a gift today.
