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Dentistry News

Eye expert helps thousands see properly again in Africa

vision-aid-overseas

 

An optometrist's eyes have been opened - after giving the power of sight to thousands of people in Africa. Paras Kothari, who practices at The Eye Centre, in London Road, Thornton Heath, has just returned from Burkina Faso, where he put hundreds of old spectacles to life-changing use. Travelling with the charity Vision Aid Overseas, he and six other optometrists examined the eyes of more than 4,000 people, providing free eye care and glasses.

It was a world apart from his day job and the experience convinced the 30-year-old that people in Croydon can make a huge difference to the lives of the visually impaired across the world. "The trip was a humbling, perspective changing experience," he explained. "We have a collection box for old glasses in our surgery, but I never really thought about where they go and the good they did. "The difference a pair of old spectacles can have on the lives of people who cannot afford basic eye care is remarkable."

Mr Kothari, who lives in Crystal Palace, visited two cities in the poverty-stricken west African country. The first was Dedougou and he was taken aback by the reaction of local people.

"Vision Aid had advertised our arrival, so when we arrived there were hundreds of people queuing to see us," he said.

"Lack of proper eye care is a massive problem in the country. It was heartbreaking.

"There were people whose conditions, like cataracts, would be easily cured in Britain but because there is no provision in Burkina Faso, it had cost them their sight.

"But at the same time you see the good old glasses can do.

"I treated dozens of people who couldn't see further than 15 centimetres in front of them.

"We then find a pair of donated glasses which are closest to their prescription.

"Some haven't been able to see for years and start to cry when they see the difference the glasses make."

The optometrists saw nearly 4,100 patients in the two weeks they spent in Burkina Faso and donated all 5,000 pairs of spectacles they took with them.

"We were giving them back their independence, the ability to go back to work, which meant their children could go back to school rather than working themselves," Mr Kothari added.

After the moving trip, Mr Kothari is now calling on residents to visit The Eye Centre and donate their old spectacles, or make a monetary donation by going to www.justgiving.com/vao, so even more people can be helped.

He said: "To us a pair of old spectacles might be for emergencies, or they may be in a draw somewhere, long forgotten.

"For them, however, it is a lifeline."

 

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