Partnering with Sight For All to promote eye health in local communities

Vision Eye Institute (VEI) recently collaborated with Sight For All to deliver educational sessions about eye health and preventing vision loss at community outreach events in Melbourne and Sydney.

Run by members of the VEI Clinical Relationships Team, the November sessions covered general eye health and sight-threatening conditions, such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease.

The Social Chat Group, VIC

Kristina Iacovangelo, VEI Clinical Relationships Manager (VIC) and Sight For All Visionary, visited The Social Chat Group run by the Box Hill Baptist Church at Village Well Community Centre.

Approximately forty local residents attended to hear her presentation, ‘Who’s looking after your eyes?’. This was followed by an interactive bilingual Q&A, with Dr Sky Chew answering many questions from the audience.

Men’s Shed, NSW

Sasha Kairouz and Kathryn Rizk, VEI Clinical Relationships Managers (NSW) and Sight For All Visionaries, visited the Willoughby Community Men’s Shed in Northbridge. Eight people attended their presentation, asking questions during and after the session. Some already had experience with glaucoma treatment or cataract surgery, which sparked meaningful discussions.

The attendees also gave Sasha and Kathryn a tour of the Shed and the projects they are currently working on. It was great to see them showcasing their work and how they support their local community.

Helping Australians care for their eyes

Around 90% of blindness and vision impairment is preventable or treatable,¹ making community education vital. By partnering with Sight For All to deliver outreach events such as these, we can help Australians understand the importance of regular eye checks and provide practical advice to protect their sight for life.

Thank you to Jo Croft (Sight For All Australian Project Manager), Geoff Pound (Box Hill Social Group Liaison), Clara Jhao (Interpreter) and Nick Ellis (Willoughby Community Men’s Shed Coordinator) for helping make these events a success.

If you are part of a community group that would like more information about how to keep your eyes healthy, please submit an enquiry here.