Our “Looking into your eyes” project performs over 100 free eye tests in la Mina, Barcelona.
On December 2 last year, the third phase of our “Looking into your eyes” Project took place at the La Mina Barcelona Centre Obert.
We tested the eyes of 105 boys and girls of between 5 and 16 years of age. Thirty-one turned out to need prescription glasses.
All were tested for visual acuity and if they already wore glasses they were also tested with a refractometer and frontofocometer, as well as for colour and binocular vision.
The eye tests revealed several cases of children whose vision was not as it should have been and they were later examined by opticians to see if the problem with their eyesight was for want of optical correction or derived from some kind of illness. If they were found to need glasses, their prescription was determined and they were provided with glasses, completely free of charge.
We set up a series of displays of Etnia Barcelona frames so that all the children needing eyewear could choose the frames they liked best. We then took their prescriptions and sent them to Essilor, where the most appropriate lenses were chosen for them, again, at no charge whatsoever
The team that performed the eye tests comprised students from the Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry (FOOT) with some of their lecturers, 3 volunteer opticians from Barcelona and volunteers from the firms Etnia Barcelona and Essilor. The frames, after being fitted with the appropriate lenses, were delivered to the children by Óptica Fórum, Barcelona.
The idea of the project is to ensure the best possible vision for all, something which is so essential to proper physical and educational development and growth, most particularly in the case of children.
Many thanks to the Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry (FOOT) students and lecturers. To opticians Maria, Ana and Ernesto. To Miguel Angel from Óptica Forum, Coté, Marie and Ariadna ,volunteers from Etnia Barcelona, and to all of the centre counsellors, most especially Jacobo and Joan.
And, of course, to our photographer Jordi Utset for these magnificent pictures!