A non-verbal Tongan child, severely myopic, uttered “wow” after seeing clearly through glasses for the first time, one of over 200 patients helped by Auckland optometrists Janice Yeoman and Germaine Joblin during their voluntary eye care mission to Tonga.
Over four and a half days, the pair provided custom prescriptions, glasses, and prosthetic eyes, addressing cases including cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. They also partnered with the Red Cross to assess children with disabilities.
“There were a lot of happy tears,” Yeoman said. “Each person got a custom prescription and full health check. This was life-changing for many.”
Joblin recalled the boy’s reaction vividly: “When I put those lenses in front of him, he said ‘wow’. It was spine-tingling.”
The pair fitted nine prosthetic eyes, an extraordinary feat given Tonga lacks such services.
Supported by local nurses and officials, including then-Prime MinisterSiaosi Sovaleni, they aim to expand their initiative, Eyes for Good, ensuring sustainable eye care in Tonga.
“It’s about families, communities, and how people interact with their environment,” Yeoman said. “We want this to have lasting momentum.”
Source: RNZ
