25 August 2025
After a busy day as a locum optometrist, it can be hard to find the motivation and energy to pursue activities that extend beyond your working life.
The pull of the sofa and your favourite television programme may be greater than your well-meaning, but now distant, New Year’s resolutions.
However, for those who do make the effort to give back beyond their working day, there are significant wellbeing benefits for the volunteer as well as the people they serve.
A 2021 study published in Frontiers of Psychology observed the relationship between volunteering, charitable donations and wellbeing among 1871 Chinese university students.
They found that students who reported more hours volunteering and more frequent charity donations tended to have higher levels of psychological wellbeing.
OT spoke with locum optometrists about how they give back in their spare time – and what motivates them in undertaking volunteer work.
A positive influence for the next generation
Locum optometrist, Frank Eperjesi, travelled to Belize in February to volunteer for the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired.
Eperjesi helped to deliver eye examinations in a country that has three ophthalmologists for a population of 420,000 people.
In the past, he has volunteered at his children's school organising a series of events, including an evening quiz, a food and music festival, and bonfire night.
In September, he will begin volunteering for the Police Cadets – an organisation for young people aged 10 to 18.
“These causes are important to me because through my behaviour I can be a role model and positively affect the way young people behave,” Eperjesi told OT.
As well as his volunteer work in Belize, Eperjesi has previously conducted eye examinations for Vision Care for Homeless People.
“This work helps people to improve the quality of their lives,” he said.
“Helping people see better means that they can fill out forms for housing and welfare and are able to gain or continue with employment,” Eperjesi added.
Eperjesi observed that when he first started volunteering, he did not do it with the aim of benefitting himself personally.
“However, I have noticed that when I finish a volunteering session it does make me feel good. When I see people having fun, making new friends and being able to move forward with their lives, that gives me a sense of joy and contentment,” he said.
“Volunteering aligns with my personal values of altruism and generosity, and my drive to be a good role model for my children and for others,” Eperjesi shared.
When I see people having fun, making new friends and being able to move forward with their lives, that gives me a sense of joy and contentment
Healthcare as a fundamental human right
Locum optometrist, Hammad Mansoor, first began volunteering two decades ago during a trip to Ghana with Vision Aid Overseas.
“The experience was incredibly fulfilling, and I directly witnessed the impact of addressing the eye care needs of underprivileged communities,” he told OT.
Mansoor now leads a voluntary organisation called Humanitarian Medical Relief which delivers dental care, eye care, and medical aid to communities worldwide.
Mansoor shared that Humanitarian Medical Relief is particularly focused on supporting communities where healthcare access is limited, non-existent, or unaffordable.
“I believe basic healthcare is a fundamental human right rather than a privilege. I feel a moral and religious obligation to strive diligently to provide compassionate and comprehensive assistance to those who are less fortunate and in need,” he said.
Like Eperjesi, Mansoor has also observed how volunteering has provided a sense of personal satisfaction.
“Volunteering helps distract me from personal worries, uplift my mood, and boost my motivation. It fosters humility, provides a sense of accomplishment, and enhances my self-perception,” he said.
Supporting women’s health
Locum optometrist, Nadirah Talati, first volunteered conducting eye tests in Lebanon for Jigsaw Charity in 2021, before returning later to fit glasses.
“During one trip, I spoke with women in the camps about a recent distribution of disposable sanitary pads. They explained how rare such support was, inspiring me to launch The Dignity Project,” she explained to OT.
The Dignity Project sees Talati and other volunteers distribute reusable sanitary pads and hold menstruation awareness sessions across Lebanon.
“Once funds are secured, I coordinate with local partners to deliver dignity bags, food parcels, and education sessions for women and girls on menstrual health and using reusables,” she said.
Talati told OT that the cause “matters deeply” to her because women’s health is often neglected.
“Volunteering allows me to address this overlooked issue, use my UK platform to help those most in need, and feel the joy of making a lasting difference,” she said.
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