A new eye health project that utilises the work of prison inmates will take 8,000 pairs of spectacles to India next year.
Dr Scott Mackie, professional services director for domiciliary provider Visioncall, developed the idea while volunteering for the cross medical disciplinary Slumdoctor mission in Punjab.
'I was the first optometrist to take part in Slumdoctor and took as many reusable pairs of spectacles from Visioncall along with me as possible,' said Dr Mackie. 'I found there was a massive need for these and I felt we could benefit more people by setting up a specialist eye camp. A pair of spectacles out there can make a huge difference by improving and restoring sight and can also help people get a job.'
The clinic will be held around Jalandhar, Punjab, in May 2013 and will take 12 people, including optometrists and dispensing opticians from the UK as sponsored volunteers.
'There are advantages in returning to an area that I have already worked in,' said Dr Mackie. 'The working conditions will be good and the hospital we will be working with will make sure the spectacles we bring out reach the poorest people in the slums. As well as distributing the glasses we will treat eye disease, do some surgery and leave skills behind through training.'
To facilitate the sorting of the spectacles so they can be of practical use in India, the project has turned to Scotland's largest prison: HMP Barlinnie.
'The inmates sort and measure the glasses,' said Dr Mackie. 'They have really bought into the process and can process over 900 frames in a week, which is impressive going.'
The majority of spectacles have been provided by Visioncall but, after the project featured on the Glasgow television news, donations have also been received from members of the public, prison staff and the optical community.
Anyone who would like to contribute reusable spectacles to the project should send them to Gary McKechnie, Specsort Project, HMP Barlinnie, Post: 81 Lee Avenue Glasgow G33 2QX or tel: 0141 770 2000.
