Future back in focus for Ethiopian student

Hayat is thrilled to have the eyeglasses she needs to catch up in school. Photo: Zenegnaw Adimtew / Operation Eyesight

Imagine failing the same grade twice. And the first grade, no less. That’s an experience 11-year-old Hayat, in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, has gone through. Today Hayat, held back by difficulties with her eyesight, is continuing to work on her first-grade accreditation, alongside seven- and eight-year-olds. Born with a twin brother, Hayat had vision problems from… Continue reading Future back in focus for Ethiopian student

Bringing futures into focus – the links between clear vision and quality education

Between textbooks, whiteboards and videos in class, most of the information that’s presented to kids at school is visual. So what does that mean for a child who can’t see clearly? In countries where eye health care is difficult to access, a simple eye condition like myopia (nearsightedness) can cause a student to fall behind… Continue reading Bringing futures into focus – the links between clear vision and quality education

Why we don’t take used eyeglasses anymore

Picture this: you’re on a mission to declutter your closet, so you start digging through a stack of old boxes. And what do you find? A bunch of old eyeglasses. You think to yourself, “I should donate these to help someone in need!” But here’s the thing: as much as we appreciate your thoughtfulness, we no… Continue reading Why we don’t take used eyeglasses anymore

No headaches thanks to new reading glasses

Kenyan schoolteacher Dinah says some of her best memories include the ‘ah-ha!’ moments when her students realized they could read and write. Now retired, she looks forward to evenings when she reads to her granddaughters, passing knowledge between generations. “It’s an honour to share my passion for teaching with the girls, though there was a… Continue reading No headaches thanks to new reading glasses