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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

life-changing

Students in Maskwacîs get free eye exams and glasses thanks to special collaboration

May 7, 2025 | 10:01 AM

Close to 600 youth in the Maskwacîs Education School Commission (MESC) received free eye exams and glasses during a two-day vision clinic this month.

The clinic was organized by the North American affiliate of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, the leading global vision care foundation, and its partner LensCrafters. The clinic is also supported by Operation Eyesight Universal, which has worked with MESC since 2023 to help promote the eye health needs for MESC students.

The collaboration ensures students in Maskwacîs have access to vital vision care, supporting their educational success and overall wellbeing.

Heather Littlechild inclusive education coordinator at MESC, says 1,200 kids went through a pre-screening test for the clinic, with right around half needing new lenses.

The expectations going in were between 35 and 50 per cent, she says.

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“What I’ve learned through this is that there are some people who don’t know they need glasses, and then when they put them on, they say, ‘Oh my goodness,'” Littlechild shared.

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“So a lot of our kids have gone through that now, and it’s been a really positive experience. They’re realizing they can see clearer, including better in the classroom.”

Littlechild says this will lead to better attitudes and outcomes in the classroom, which has a far-reaching ripple effect.

“They’re saying they can read better, see the board, see the trees, the flowers, and everything’s just an improvement,” she says.

“It’s an improvement to quality of life.”

Students from seven different schools took part, in grades four through six.

Littlechild says they’re going to organize another clinic in the future, and hope to be more self-sufficient in supporting students with eye care needs in the future.

What’s more is they had Elders come in to volunteer with the clinic, helping students get through it, and adding a cultural touch to the event.

“At first, I didn’t think this would be life-changing for them. But over the week, we saw kids just be like, ‘I can see,’ and they walked around so proud. It’s also changing their behaviour in the classroom,” she adds.

“One optometrist spoke up about a student who got a pair of glasses, and noted he wasn’t frustrated anymore, and not fooling around, all because he could actually see, and engage in the classroom.”

More information about this initiative is at operationeyesight.com.