Optical dispenser Louise Nicholson has volunteered with the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation for almost two decades. Here, she shares her experience of a five-day clinic in Vanuatu, where a 14-strong team saw 887 people across two villages.
For many people, good vision or access to corrective eyewear is simply a part of everyday life. It is something often taken for granted. Yet across many parts of the world, clear vision remains out of reach for entire communities.
That is why being involved with the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has become far more than volunteering for me – it has become a passion that has spanned almost two decades.
My journey with OneSight began back in 2006 during my first clinic in South Australia, held in an Indigenous community three hours north of Adelaide. At the time, the clinic consisted of just two people: an optometrist and me as the dispenser. Looking back now, it is incredible to see how much the program has grown.
“this is what OneSight truly means – not just providing glasses, but changing lives, creating connection, and giving people the opportunity to see the world more clearly”
This year, our Vanuatu clinic team included six optometrists, four dispensers, three support staff and one clinic leader, all travelling together with the same goal – to help provide life-changing vision care to those who may otherwise go without it.
Over five days, our team saw 887 people across two villages. In total, we provided 801 pairs of glasses, including 228 prescription orders, 463 readers and 110 Ready2Clip glasses.
A Community Effort
The clinics themselves became a true community effort. While we were based in two villages, the buses used to transport our team were then used to ferry people in from surrounding areas so they could also access eye care. Every day, families travelled long distances simply for the chance to have their vision checked.
One of our busiest clinic days saw 235 patients, and it was during this time that we met Ronslee.
Ronslee was born with a congenital cataract, which had been removed when he was a baby, but no replacement lens had ever been inserted. We were able to provide him with a pair of +6.00 Ready2Clip glasses and a direct referral to an ophthalmologist based at the Vanuatu National Hospital in Port Vila. The smile on his face when putting on the spectacles said everything.
The generosity and warmth shown by the local communities was equally unforgettable. The villagers welcomed us with open arms, incredible hospitality and beautiful singing. Each day they prepared lunch for us, and community members brought plates and cutlery from their own homes so there would be enough for everyone. We enjoyed fresh coconuts straight from the trees and foods many of us had never experienced before.
The final two clinic days were held in a local school, where one teacher sent three young boys to have their eyes tested. That was where we met Johnson, a young student who had been struggling to see the classroom board.
Johnson’s prescription revealed vision issues, and we arranged for a full pair of prescription glasses to be made for him. As those glasses would take several weeks to arrive, we also provided him with temporary Ready2Clip glasses to use immediately.
When he first put them on, his reaction was simple but unforgettable:
‘It’s not blurry any more.’
That one sentence captured exactly why these clinics matter.
Creating Sustainable Eye Care
Beyond patient care, another important focus of the trip was sustainability. It was a privilege to help train members of the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu Health team in the use of the autorefractor. One of our optometrists, Amy Pillay, also taught basic refraction techniques, helping equip them with skills that can continue benefiting the people of Vanuatu long after our team has returned home.
As a dispenser, I do not often see the visible effects of untreated eye conditions such as cataracts and pterygia in my day-to-day work. In Vanuatu, however, these conditions were widespread and impossible to ignore. That made it especially meaningful that our team was also able to distribute more than 400 pairs of sunglasses to help protect eyes from ongoing UV damage.
The experience was emotional, exhausting, inspiring, and deeply rewarding – all at once. There were countless hugs, a few quiet tears and many moments that will stay with me forever.
Most of all, it was incredible to witness how quickly a group of people could come together, learn new skills and work seamlessly as one team to help hundreds of people regain clearer vision and renewed confidence.
None of it would have been possible without the dedication and hard work that each team member brought to the table.
For me, this is what OneSight truly means – not just providing glasses, but changing lives, creating connection, and giving people the opportunity to see the world more clearly.
To find out more about the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and how to support future clinics, visit the foundation’s website.
Louise Nicholson has 26 years of experience as an optical dispenser, including 23 years with OPSM. She is passionate about patient care and eye health and is a dedicated OneSight volunteer since 2006. Ms Nicholson has also served as a OneSight Champion for two years, supporting improved access to vision care in communities.
