Eye care at Christmas

Practitioners from Specsavers in Edinburgh are providing free eye exams and spectacles to homeless people at special Vision Care for Homeless People (VCHP) Crisis at Christmas clinics.

The first service was held at the charity’s clinic in the city’s Crisis Skylight facility at Cranston House, Cannongate, on 16 December, with another to run on 6 January.

The project is part of nationwide initiative from Specsavers which aims to improve access to eye care for people experiencing homelessness or facing other barriers to care, including financial, residential, or not being eligible for NHS support.

The first-of-its-kind clinic in Scotland opened earlier this year.

Volunteer and clinical director at Specsavers Cameron Toll and Morningside, Michael O’Kane, explained: “For people facing homelessness here in Edinburgh and across the UK, accessing this basic yet life-changing care is often fraught with barriers – whether due to cost, social reasons, lack of documentation, or access to facilities.

“By partnering with Crisis at Christmas, we’re taking a meaningful step towards breaking down these obstacles.”

O’Kane shared that the 2023 Crisis at Christmas clinics had been “hugely successful,” and called on optometrists and optical colleagues to consider volunteering “to help make a real difference this Christmas.”

Crisis, a national charity for people experiencing homelessness, supports people with education and training, housing, employment, and health.

Chief executive at Crisis, Matt Downie, said: “We know that people facing homelessness meet significant barriers when trying to access the healthcare they need and can go years without having an eye test, putting them at risk of developing serious eye health conditions.

“Being able to connect the people we support at Christmas to vital healthcare services plays a huge part in someone’s first step out of homelessness. That is why we’re incredibly grateful to be working with Specsavers to deliver much needed eye tests and advice.”