Sight for Sore Eyes

Andrew Keech is moved by a collection of inspiring stories published in celebration of the work of Vision Aid Overseas

Vision Aid Overseas is celebrating its first 20 years with the publication of Sight for Sore Eyes. VAO was founded by members of a Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity trip that concluded there was no UK optical community-based charity of this type. Since then, over 900 volunteers from VAO have carried out 500,000 examinations.

This is barely a scratch on the surface of a global problem, but 137 teams have visited four continents, tailoring their projects to the local community's needs. This may mean providing primary sight correction, disease screening, setting up workshop facilities or teaching local health care workers refraction skills. VAO has adapted through the years and continues to make a difference to the people it treats.

A founder member and its first chairman, Brian Ellis MBE has compiled   Sight For Sore Eyes, which is a summary of its progress by a dozen or so members.