Practice director supports eye care initiative in Pakistan

The director of an independent optical practice joined a charity eye camp to help provide free eye care services in rural Pakistan.

Sohail Khan, director of Abra & Co Opticians, a Hakim Group independent practice, travelled to South Punjab as part of a charity eye camp delivered in partnership with the non-profit organisation, LRBT.

The region faces significant healthcare challenges, with many communities having little or no access to regular eye care services.

The eye camp provided eye examinations, spectacles, dry eye treatments, and referrals for more complex conditions, including cataracts, congenital glaucoma, and corneal disease.

Across four days of intensive clinics, a team of 30 volunteers including optometrists, ophthalmologists, and local support staff, screened and tested almost 2000 patients.

Khan shared: “The experience was incredibly humbling and also a reminder of how fortunate we are in the UK to have access to regular eye examinations, referrals, and ongoing care pathways.”

Many patients requiring ongoing treatment would otherwise be unable to access specialist services due to the distance, travel costs, and loss of income.

Through the partnership with LRBT, arrangements have been made to transport groups of patients to a specialist hospital for surgery and follow-up care,

Khan said: “We wanted this project to create genuine, long-term impact for communities where access to eye care is extremely limited.”

“There were patients who simply wanted to regain enough vision to continue working and supporting their families, alongside children whose futures could genuinely be transformed through treatment and intervention,” he said, adding that knowing care plans are in place for many of those patients was “incredibly rewarding.”

The team also encountered challenging moments and cases.

Khan explained: “Some conditions had progressed too far due to a lack of early intervention and awareness, particularly among younger patients. It really reinforced how important accessible eye care and public health education are globally.”

In one case, the team met a baby with previously undiagnosed congenial glaucoma that had already caused irreversible damage to the eye.

Several children with treatable conditions, including cataracts and strabismus, were referred for ongoing specialist management.

Significant logistical coordination was required to support the operation, with local volunteers visiting villages to notify residents about the clinics in advance.

With a lack of formal addresses in some areas, follow-up care and referrals often relied on communication through local village elders.

Reflecting on the experience, Khan said: “We hope to continue supporting initiatives like this in the future and would encourage any optometrists interested in humanitarian outreach work to get involved wherever they can.”

Khan hopes to return to Pakistan later this year to continue supporting the initiative and strengthen ongoing patient care pathways in the region.

Optometrists who would like to get involved in, or support, future camps are encouraged to contact Sohail Khan by email.