Vision Express employees travel to Africa

An optometrist and dispensing optician from Windsor flew to Sierra Leone on Saturday (13 May) to offer eye care to people living in the country who have limited access to health services. 

Optometrist Marina Khan and dispensing optician Kerrin Walker (pictured), who work at Vision Express in Windsor, will spend two weeks in the West African country as part of a Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) trip. The charity works with practitioner volunteers who travel to a range of developing countries, including Sierra Leone, to offer training to local optical care workers and establish Vision Centres. 

Speaking ahead of the trip, Mr Walker said: “No one should live in poverty due to poor eyesight. Yet in Sierra Leone, eye care services are out of reach for most of the population. Something as simple as having a pair of glasses or getting medical attention can help people get an education, a job and care better for their families.” 

The optometrist and dispensing optician will be part of a team of six who will spend time in a number of remote villages providing eye care and spectacles to local people. During the two-week mission, they will also establish a spectacles glazing laboratory and teach people to operate the facility. 

As part of the trip, the pair have pledged to raise £1700 each to help support VAO in its work. To make a donation, visit Ms Khan or Mr Walker’s JustGiving pages.