Vision Beyond Borders

Sydney ophthalmologist Dr Colin Clement begins the series in Mongolia, where Sight For All is helping develop the next generation of glaucoma specialists through fellowship-level education and mentorship. In Vanuatu, the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation combines clinical care with training for community-based volunteers and local health workers. Optical Dispensers Australia takes us inside a busy week of mobile clinics in Fiji, while Specsavers and The Fred Hollows Foundation demonstrate how teaching placements and long-term partnerships can strengthen the eye care workforce across Australia and the Pacific.

These different models of outreach are united by collaboration, professional generosity, and a commitment to creating lasting improvements in eye care.

Strengthening Mongolia’s Next Generation of Glaucoma Leaders

WRITER: Dr Colin Clement

For Dr Colin Clement, one of the most rewarding aspects of ophthalmology is the opportunity to share knowledge and learn from colleagues around the world. He recently had the privilege of travelling to Ulaanbaatar with Sight For All to contribute to its glaucoma education program in Mongolia, and the experience reinforced the importance of investing in local clinicians to create lasting improvements in patient care.

When people think of international eye health outreach, they often picture visiting surgeons performing procedures before returning home. While these activities can be valuable, the greatest long-term impact comes from building local expertise. Sight For All’s Mongolia program is founded on this principle, focusing on fellowship-level education and mentorship delivered within the trainee’s own clinical environment.

To date, seven Mongolian ophthalmologists have participated in, or are currently undertaking, the glaucoma fellowship program. Rather than requiring clinicians to leave their practices and families for extended overseas training, the program allows them to develop advanced knowledge and surgical skills within Mongolia, where those skills can be immediately applied to patient care.

A highlight of my recent visit was an educational program delivered in partnership with the Young Ophthalmologists of Mongolia (YOMO). More than 25 young ophthalmologists attended a two-hour interactive session titled ‘Glaucoma beyond the basics’, which explored challenging aspects of glaucoma diagnosis and management, including masquerade syndromes, glaucoma associated with keratoprosthesis, and contemporary surgical techniques such as deep sclerectomy.

The enthusiasm and engagement of participants were remarkable. Questions continued well beyond the scheduled program, reflecting a strong desire among Mongolia’s emerging ophthalmologists to expand their subspecialty knowledge and improve outcomes for patients with complex glaucoma.

The success of the YOMO program was made possible through the outstanding efforts of Dr Ijilmurun Enkh-Amgalan, Chair of the YOMO Executive Committee, who coordinated the educational activities and brought together a highly motivated group of young ophthalmologists. YOMO has become an important force in ophthalmic education within Mongolia, providing opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and international collaboration. Spending time with its members gave me great confidence in the future of ophthalmology in the country.

Hands-On Learning

While lectures are an important component of education, some of the most valuable learning occurred in clinics and operating theatres. Throughout the visit, we reviewed challenging cases, discussed management strategies, and explored the decision-making processes involved in glaucoma care.

The operating theatre sessions were particularly rewarding. They provided opportunities to discuss surgical planning, refine techniques, and share approaches to managing difficult glaucoma cases. Importantly, these sessions focused on mentorship and skills transfer, rather than visiting surgeons performing operations independently. The goal was to strengthen local expertise and confidence so that patients continue to benefit long after the educational visit has concluded.

One of the most exciting components of the program involved minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). Through the generous support of Glaukos, local surgeons were provided with donated iStent inject devices, while Device Technologies further strengthened the program through the donation of essential surgical instruments and consumables, including speculums, cannulas, Drysdale spatulas, and Sub-Tenon’s needles.

These contributions provided much more than equipment. They created opportunities for practical training in contemporary glaucoma surgery and helped ensure that educational activities could be translated into meaningful clinical experience. Sustainable improvements in eye care require both knowledge and the tools needed to apply that knowledge effectively. The generosity of Glaukos and Device Technologies has made a tangible contribution to the development of glaucoma care in Mongolia, and I am sincerely grateful for their support.

The broader significance of the program was reinforced through a meeting with Australia’s Ambassador to Mongolia, His Excellency Leo Zeng. The Ambassador expressed strong support for initiatives that strengthen educational and healthcare links between Australia and Mongolia. His encouragement highlighted the value of professional collaboration – not only for improving patient care but also for fostering enduring relationships between our two countries.

Influencing the Future

One of the most impressive aspects of the visit was the quality, enthusiasm, and commitment of the young Mongolian ophthalmologists involved. Whether participating in lectures, discussing clinical cases, or observing and performing surgery, they consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to improving patient outcomes and advancing their profession.

Ultimately, the success of programs such as these should not be measured by the number of lectures delivered or procedures performed during a single visit. Their true value lies in the development of clinicians who will continue to teach, mentor, and care for patients long into the future. Every ophthalmologist who gains advanced glaucoma expertise has the potential to influence countless patients and colleagues throughout their career.

Sight For All’s work in Mongolia demonstrates the power of sustainable capacity building. By supporting local ophthalmologists, partnering with organisations such as YOMO, and leveraging the generosity of industry partners and diplomatic stakeholders, the program is helping build a stronger future for glaucoma care across the country.

As I reflected on the visit, it became clear that the most valuable outcome was not a single operation, lecture, or clinical consultation. It was the strengthening of a network of talented and motivated clinicians who will continue sharing knowledge, training colleagues, and improving patient care for years to come. That is the lasting legacy of education, and the reason programs such as these matter.

Dr Colin Clement BSc (Hon) MBBS PhD FRANZCO is a Sydney-based ophthalmologist with expertise in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma, cataract, and general ophthalmology. He consults and operates in private practice in Sydney, and is an Honorary Medical Officer in the glaucoma unit at Sydney Eye Hospital. 

Alongside his clinical and research work, Dr Clement is committed to medical education. As a clinical senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, he delivers ophthalmology lectures and tutorials to medical and master’s students, nurses, optometrists, and other healthcare professionals.

More Than Vision Correction

WRITER: Amy Pillay
PHOTOS: Ben McFadyen, Thesewildeyes

There are moments in life that leave a lasting impression and fundamentally change the way you view the world. For Amy Pillay, her recent trip to Vanuatu, in collaboration with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, was one of those moments.

For many people, Vanuatu is synonymous with crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, beautiful beaches, and warm, welcoming people. However, behind this tropical paradise lies a reality that many visitors never see – limited access to healthcare services, particularly eye care, for communities in Port Vila and the surrounding islands.

I was fortunate to be selected as part of the EssilorLuxottica OneSight volunteer team travelling to Vanuatu with a shared mission: to work alongside local communities. What unfolded over the following days was far more than an eye care outreach program. It was a powerful demonstration of collaboration, education, and community impact, demonstrating what can be achieved when different parts of the eye care ecosystem unite around a common purpose.

A Team United by Purpose

For this mission, 15 volunteers from across EssilorLuxottica Australia came together, representing a diverse range of roles including optometrists, dispensers, optical assistants, and managers.

There were two main objectives: to provide vision care to the local community through the OneSight charitable clinic; and to create a sustainable model of care alongside the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV) Health and Vanuatu Red Cross that would continue long after our departure.

OneSight Clinic

The OneSight clinic was led by Danielle Brooks, OneSight Program Manager, with Mario Basso, Professional Services Manager WA, leading the optometry partnership.

The impact of the clinic was significant. Over the course of the week, the team provided vision care to 887 people, with 801 pairs of prescription glasses dispensed or ordered, in addition to the many sunglasses distributed to help protect eyes from Vanuatu’s intense UV exposure.

Mr Basso described the clinic as “incredibly rewarding” and “truly inspiring”. “Seeing the immediate difference that an eye examination or a pair of glasses can make reinforced the importance of programs like these and the impact they have on communities,” he told me. And I must agree.

Building Sustainable Vision Care

One of the most rewarding aspects of the trip was OneSight partnering with Vanuatu Red Cross and PCV Health to train eight community-based surveillance volunteers from Port Vila and the surrounding area.

Our first day focused on education. We presented on basic eye health principles with the volunteers. This included the importance of hand hygiene, keeping eyes clean, wearing protective eyewear, understanding the effects of UV exposure, recognising pterygium, and understanding cataract progression. We also trained them to assess near vision and provide ready-made reading glasses and sunglasses where appropriate.

We then put these learnings into practice.

We visited a community living on and around a rubbish tip, where access to clean water is limited and families rely on rainwater and nearby rivers. The community welcomed us with warmth, gratitude, and enthusiasm.

Several people received reading glasses and sunglasses for the first time. More importantly, the local volunteers gained practical skills and confidence that they could take back to their own communities. This is what sustainable vision care is all about – supporting local people with the knowledge and resources to continue making a difference long after the visiting team has returned home.

Local Champions Making a Difference

Another highlight of the trip was working alongside Rafina Daniels and Dick Naket from PCV Health. Both have been trained by visiting optometrists to perform basic refraction and vision assessments, and part of my role was to provide additional support, training, and feedback to help further develop their clinical skills. It was inspiring to see the confidence and competence they had built, accurately assessing both distance and near vision while recognising when referrals to hospital services were necessary.

Investing in local capability is essential to creating sustainable eye care services, and Ms Daniels and Mr Naket are excellent examples of how education and ongoing mentorship can empower healthcare workers to make a lasting impact within their communities.

I also worked closely with Wayne Tennent, Director of OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Oceania, to conduct an equipment review of the existing clinic. OneSight is exploring opportunities to partner with PCV Health and other charitable organisations, such as Christian Blind Mission New Zealand, to further develop and enhance the clinic, helping to improve access to eye care for the local community.

We also had the opportunity to meet with local ophthalmologist Dr Nico Ly at the Port Vila National Hospital. During our discussions, he highlighted the prevalence of eye injuries, particularly knife-related trauma and lacerations in children. His insights reinforced the importance of community education, preventative eye health initiatives, and access to protective eyewear to help reduce avoidable vision impairment and injury.

A Journey to Pele Island

One experience that will stay with me forever was travelling to Pele Island with Wayne Tennent.

Our mission was simple: To understand the challenges that these communities face with access to vision care services, and find ways to ensure that they can get the care that they deserve. In doing so, we transported residents to the OneSight clinic so they could receive much-needed eye care.

Among those waiting for us was 81-year-old Phoebe Stevens.

When we arrived, Ms Stevens was ready and waiting, having already gathered several other community members to join the trip. She welcomed us into her home and proudly showed us her current glasses. She explained that she struggled to read her Bible without additional light and that her vision had gradually become more challenging over time.

As we spoke, Ms Stevens shared what accessing eye care normally involved. A simple eye examination required travelling by boat to the main island, followed by more than an hour on a bus, waiting for an appointment, and then making the same journey home.

When transport costs, food expenses, and time away from family are considered, accessing eye care becomes financially and logistically out of reach for many island residents.

Ms Stevens brought her daughter-in-law, Betty, who had never owned a pair of reading glasses.

After receiving their eye assessments, both women were provided with reading glasses and sunglasses. The transformation was immediate. They could once again read comfortably, see clearly, and reduce the glare from Vanuatu’s bright white sand and intense tropical sunlight.

The joy on their faces was unforgettable.

There were hugs, photographs, laughter, and tears of gratitude. What stayed with me most was not the glasses themselves, but the joy and appreciation of receiving good vision.

Looking Beyond the Prescription

My experience in Vanuatu reinforced the importance of accessible eye care and the profound impact it can have on individuals, families, and communities.

I learned a great deal from the people I met throughout the trip, particularly about resilience, community, and the importance of local leadership.

I returned home with a deeper appreciation for the power of collaboration and the importance of building sustainable models of care. When optometrists, dispensers, ophthalmologists, community organisations, healthcare providers, and volunteers come together, the impact extends far beyond vision correction.

It strengthens opportunities for education, independence, and participation within communities.

For me, this was far more than a volunteer trip. It was a reminder that meaningful change happens when local communities, healthcare providers, and partner organisations work together to strengthen services that can be sustained long into the future.

Amy Pillay is an optometrist and the Professional Affairs Manager at EssilorLuxottica. Her professional journey spans roles as an optical dispenser, managing optometrist, professional services manager, and now Professional Affairs Manager, providing her with a deep and practical understanding of clinical practice and industry dynamics.

With a strong clinical foundation and a particular focus on myopia management, contact lenses, and spectacle lenses, Ms Pillay plays a key role in driving industry collaboration, education, and innovation.

Finding Another Way

WRITER: April Petrusma

As I write this, I’m sitting on the floor in the corner of a village community hall in Tavua on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji, taking a quiet moment after completing the first day of another week-long Optical Dispensers Australia (ODA) outreach for the South Pacific Eye Care (SPEC) Foundation. Around me, our volunteer team of 14 Australian optical dispensers, two optometrists, one ophthalmologist, and an incredible group of locals from Christian Helps are packing away trial frames, prescription glasses, and vision screening equipment before we load everything back into the minibuses for the two-hour journey to our base in Lautoka – where we’ll prepare to do it all again tomorrow in a different location.

It’s a familiar scene, yet one that never loses its impact.

For our volunteer optical dispensers, the ODA outreach is so much more than dispensing glasses. It’s about restoring independence, creating opportunities, building friendships across cultures, and witnessing first-hand the extraordinary difference something as simple as clear vision can make in a person’s life. Uncorrected refractive error remains the leading cause of vision impairment worldwide, and being able to use our skills to help address even a small part of that is both a privilege and a humbling experience.

Returning to Fiji this year has brought back countless memories of the past two years of outreach – experiences that transformed not only the lives of many of the people we met, but also had a lasting impact on every volunteer fortunate enough to be part of the journey.

Every volunteer gives up their annual leave, travels thousands of kilometres, and works long days because they believe everyone deserves the chance to see clearly, regardless of where they live or their financial circumstances.

It’s hard work. It’s emotional work. But it’s also incredibly rewarding work.

Each morning, as the sun rises over the island, we load our vehicles with equipment, donated prescription glasses, and supplies before making our way to a new village. Some days are busier than others. Today we screened 257 people and dispensed 313 pairs of prescription glasses, with presbyopia proving to be, by far, the most common condition we encountered.

Although this is now my third year as project coordinator and a volunteer, no two days are ever the same. Every day presents a different location, different challenges, and different stories waiting to unfold.

Some clinics are held in school classrooms, others beneath temporary shelters, in village halls, tents or even family homes. From the very first day of our inaugural outreach in 2024, we learnt that flexibility isn’t simply helpful, it is essential.

Today’s clinic was meant to be held at a school, but while we were en route, we received a call to say the venue was no longer available. Fortunately, the local village chief welcomed us into his community hall and quickly organised tables and chairs from the nearby school. Within minutes, our clinic was back on track.

As Australian optical dispensers, we’re accustomed to working in comfortable practices with modern equipment and familiar surroundings. Outreach work strips all of that away. Suddenly you’re adapting to heat, dust, changing light, no power, limited resources, language barriers, and patients who may have travelled hours to have their eyes examined.

Yet somehow, none of these challenges matter.

Instead, you become completely focused on the person sitting in front of you. A child. A parent. A grandparent. A farmer. A village chief. A school headmaster. Someone who needs your help, and someone whose life can be changed with a simple pair of glasses.

Every volunteer finds their place. Through trial and error, we’ve developed a streamlined system, with dedicated teams registering patients, screening vision, assisting the optometrists, and dispensing glasses. Everyone steps in wherever they’re needed, and it’s commonplace to work until the sun disappears below the horizon.

Sometimes, it doesn’t end there.

After a long day, when all you want is a shower and a chance to rest, that feeling is quickly replaced by the desire to help when we hear about patients unable to reach our clinics because of illness or disability.

Over the years we’ve made several home visits, but one evening stands out above all others. While half of our team returned to the hotel, six of us made our way down a rough dirt track through the darkness of a cane field.

The only light came from our phone torches as we met an elderly amputee who had previously lost an eye due to untreated glaucoma. He explained that the pressure had become so high the eye eventually ruptured.

Hearing his story was confronting, but it was also a powerful reminder of why outreach work matters. Access to basic eye care is something many of us take for granted, yet for millions of people around the world it remains out of reach.

Not every memory revolves around patients. Some of my favourite moments happen after the clinics have closed.

Children challenge us to games of soccer that somehow become rugby. Village chiefs welcome us with extraordinary generosity. Families insist we share meals together. Choirs perform traditional songs that leave more than a few volunteers wiping away tears.

These moments remind us that outreach isn’t simply about providing a service. It’s about genuine human connection – both with the communities that welcome us and within our own team, where shared purpose quickly turns strangers into lifelong friends.

One thing every volunteer quickly learns is that Fiji has a wonderful way of keeping you humble.

Vehicles break down – we’ve experienced it all: our van, our ute, and even a boat. Equipment refuses to cooperate. Clinics become busier than expected. Supplies run low. Schedules often run to ‘Fiji time’, which usually means they don’t run to schedule at all.

Rather than becoming frustrated, our local partners taught us a phrase that has become our unofficial motto: “There’s always another…”

Another van.

Another boat.

Another solution.

There’s always another way.

It’s become more than a saying. It’s a mindset. No matter what obstacle appears, everyone works together until a solution is found.

By the end of every outreach week, we’ll have screened more than 1,000 people, dispensed hundreds of pairs of prescription glasses, and shared information about eye health with many adults and children.

The numbers are significant, but they never tell the full story.

Behind every statistic may be a child who can now see the classroom blackboard. A grandparent who can thread a needle again. A parent who can return to work. Someone reading their Bible, recognising a loved one from across the road, or simply seeing their own reflection clearly for the first time in years.

Those are the moments that stay with you long after you return home.

Now, as I look around the community hall once more, someone is closing the last equipment case while another volunteer is sweeping the floor, and others are loading the waiting minibuses. In a few moments we’ll begin the journey back to Lautoka, ready to do it all again tomorrow.

The faces we’ll meet will be different, the location will change, and the challenges ahead remain unknown, but our purpose remains exactly the same.

Because somewhere out there is another person waiting to see the world more clearly – and that’s exactly why we’re here.

April Petrusma is the Chief Executive Officer of Optical Dispensers Australia. She co-founded the South Pacific Eye Care Foundation, which is a registered charitable organisation.

Lasting Eye Care Partnership

WRITER: Duchesne Markham

Through its long-standing partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation in Australia and New Zealand, Specsavers is combining funding and professional expertise to help strengthen eye care services and develop local workforces across Australia and the Pacific.

To date, more than 100 optometrists have participated in Specsavers-funded outreaches and teaching placements across Australia and the Pacific, collectively delivering more than 480 days of clinical service and workforce development support.

In line with the shared philosophy of both Specsavers and The Fred Hollows Foundation, outreaches and teaching placements aim to create and support sustainable models of care that improve access to life-changing eye care services.

One example is teaching placements that are delivered with The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand at the Pacific Eye Institute (PEI) in Suva, Fiji.

Dedicated to developing the region’s eye care workforce, PEI combines specialist eye care services with postgraduate training for eye doctors and nurses from across the Pacific. Students can receive scholarships to study at Fiji National University (FNU), with clinical training through the PEI, before returning to their home countries with the skills to deliver eye care in their own communities, reaching people who may otherwise go without.

For more than a decade, visiting Specsavers optometrists have supported the refraction module of PEI’s Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Eye Care, working alongside local educators to provide additional mentoring and bring current clinical experience into practical sessions.

Unlike traditional service delivery outreaches, this approach focuses on strengthening local eye care systems by helping to develop the local workforce.

Specsavers optometrist, Tiana Nix participated in a five-week teaching placement at PEI in 2025 and said it helped her discover a renewed passion for optometry, lecturing, and public health.

“It was incredibly rewarding to be able to lecture and teach the students in my class on this Fred Hollows teaching placement, and allow my joy and excitement for optometry to pass onto them. The students were so eager to learn and were dedicated to grasping each concept on refraction and lens prescribing, and to support one another through difficult concepts.

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to train nurses who can go back to their villages across the Pacific region, to provide much needed sustainable eye care that has previously been inaccessible. This placement helped me rediscover a renewed passion for optometry, lecturing, and public health. I endeavour to continue to focus on my skills as a teacher and practitioner in the years to come to make a positive impact on patient health outcomes and advocate for improved access to eye care,” she said.

FNU lecturer Ashreeta Lingam said having visiting Specsavers optometrists as part of its education team provides valuable mentoring that students might not otherwise receive.

“Students learn to calculate prescriptions, measure lens power, and apply these skills in a practical laboratory. Being able to do this under the guidance of optometrists like Tiana is hugely beneficial. Having experienced optometrists available for additional mentoring also means students who need more support can receive one-to-one guidance until they feel confident in the skill they’re learning,” she said.

Ms Nix said the Specsavers Outreach Program offers optometrists a “powerful way to pass on knowledge and skills and make a meaningful impact”.

“Having my wages as well as all travel expenses including flights, accommodation, food, and optometry registration covered meant I was able to focus on delivering informative lecture content and creating meaningful relationships with the students and Pacific Eye Institute staff. I am incredibly grateful to Specsavers and The Fred Hollows Foundation for this wonderful opportunity and the exceptional support I received throughout the entire placement. I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone who is passionate about outreach and public health.”

Beyond Fiji, Specsavers optometrists also provide training support in Samoa, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands. They also work with The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Indigenous Australia Program team to support service delivery outreaches in communities across Australia. Australian outreaches are conducted in collaboration with The Foundation’s program partners and have reached rural and remote locations such as Lightning Ridge, Bourke, Katherine, and Fitzroy Crossing.

Specsavers Head of Sustainability, Cathy Rennie Matos, said the company has also recently worked to co-design opportunities for non-clinical team members.

“Outreaches and teaching placements are an incredibly meaningful way of connecting with, and contributing to, the important work of The Fred Hollows Foundation. We’ve recently developed the ‘Fred Experience’ for non-clinical team members, providing them with the opportunity to learn more about, and experience first-hand, The Foundation’s work in both Australia and the Pacific, and take those learnings back to their stores.”

As the partnership marks its 15th anniversary this year, AU$12.8m donated by Specsavers Australia and New Zealand has contributed to more than 380,000 eye screenings, 22,000 treatments for diabetic retinopathy, and 33,000 cataract surgeries and other eye treatments. The partnership has also supported the distribution of 25,000 pairs of glasses and the training or upskilling of more than 1,400 healthcare workers. Together with the non-financial support provided through initiatives such as the outreach program, these outcomes demonstrate the partnership’s broader contribution – supporting access to care today while investing in the systems and people who will deliver, for years to come.

Duchesne Markham is the Senior Stakeholder and Professional Communications Manager for Specsavers Australia New Zealand.