Trainee optician Abby brings hope to the people of Kolkata

ABBY O’NEILL, trainee dispensing optician at Specsavers Carlow, recently joined a team of Specsavers volunteers traveling to Kolkata, India to provide crucial eye care in aid of the Hope Foundation.

The team provided much-needed eye care while working in The Hope Hospital Eye Clinic and visiting local communities in Kolkata.

After spending a week in Kolkata, Abby returned home full of gratitude and appreciation for The Hope Foundation saying, “I'm so grateful for the opportunity to return to Kolkata with The Hope Foundation this year. Their work alongside street communities is truly transformative, changing lives for the better.” 

“It was a privilege to witness the impact of our support, especially the gift of sight we helped provide to hundreds. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this possible.”

 This vital work is part of Specsavers' ongoing partnership with The Hope Foundation, which has raised over €200,000 this year, contributing to more than half-a-million euros since 2017, dramatically impacting the lives of Kolkata's most vulnerable.

During their week-long trip, the team of expert opticians gave eye checks to 3,120 patients, dispensed over 2,203 glasses, and in more severe cases referred patients to Hope Hospital for surgery.

At the end of their week-long volunteering trip, Specsavers presented a cheque of €200,000 to founder of The Hope Foundation, Maureen Forrest.

Ms Forrest said: “This programme is the difference between life and death to people who can’t feed their families.”