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.
NOT ALL PLAIN SAILING
The chapter 'Not all plain sailing' describes the difficulties of travelling in countries with poor roads and unpredictable drivers. Other problems included being detained by members of the security forces for taking a picture. Accidents and the obligatory 'toilet' story are all here, but the book is also an exploration of the way an adolescent charity develops and of the people it serves. Scattered throughout, are inspiring and sometimes disturbing individual stories. VAO is not just about opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. 'Prison our salvation' is a moving chapter explaining the role of the prison service in cleaning and grading spectacles. 
DIGNITY AND HUMANITY
I was touched by the dignity of the people and their stories. Their desire to help themselves and the way VAO integrates direct help with education. 'Go, help, encourage' includes one such story. 'Her brightly patterned blue and yellow dress with a row of beads at her throat was in contradiction to her story. Having seen her children and grandchildren killed and kidnapped by rebel forces, she had fled the bush and lived in fear for two months, coping alone as she struggled the 80km from Pujehun.
In her flight she had lost both her prosthetic left eye and the spectacles she needed to enable her to see with her right eye following a cataract operation. She had come to the hospital in desperation, but the VAO team was able to restore both her sight and her dignity.'
THRILLS AND SPILLS
The work is ongoing and the chapter 'Next Time is not good enough' shows the issues of too much demand and not enough time or resources. The 12-year-old at school can't wait for you to return next year and the queues (we are 'English/British' after all) do not necessarily diminish.
Brushes with the authorities, the weather, avoiding disease and travelling across countries where a zebra crossing is just that, are all covered.
The work is ongoing and they will return, but there is a limit to what can be achieved. Recent events in Edinburgh and the Live 8 concerts have shown us an opportunity to help. In the meantime, VAO has to fend for itself, with our help.
This book is not available to profit anyone other than VAO and if you want a copy you will need to contact VAO direct.
<E075> Sight For Sore Eyes, by Brian H Ellis is published by VAO. Price £10. Paperback 95pp. Tel: 01293 535016. Or write to: Vision Aid Overseas, 12 The Bell Centre, Newton Road, Manor Royal, Crawley RH10 2FZ
<E075> Andrew Keech is an optometrist in private practice and a visiting clinician at City University