Students test sight in Moldova

A group of 11 Cardiff University optometry students have travelled to Moldova to test the sight of people living in remote villages in the eastern European country after receiving support from the Wiseman Memorial Fund.

The undergraduates, alongside supervisors, tested the sight of more than 1700 people during the ‘Returning Vision to Moldova’ trip.

Speaking about the experience, student Jemima Morgan said: “We travelled to remote villages where there is no access to eye care and were greeted by the community – young and old – waiting patiently for us to see them. In one day we tested the eyes of 588 people, and never left each day until we had seen everybody.”

Each year the Wiseman Memorial Fund provides a limited number of travel bursaries to optometry students in their second year of study.

Ms Morgan added: “The trip allowed us to see a wide variety of patients, which has helped us prepare for our final year of study and future careers. It was amazing to see that we could make a huge difference to peoples’ lives.”