Optometrist off to help Fiji

Ian Russell is off to help the Fred Hollows Foundation provide quality eye care to our Fijian neighbours. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

Specsavers Whanganui co-owner and optometrist Ian Russell is off to Fiji to work with The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, at the Pacific Eye Institute (PEI) in Suva.

"Specsavers has a sponsorship arrangement with the Fred Hollows Foundation," says Ian. "We have an arrangement in that we donate money through every eye exam that we do with community programmes, and for the last seven years, approximately, we have been in partnership with Fred Hollows in terms of supporting their efforts."

The problem in the Pacific is sunlight.
"The more sunlight hours we have the more likely we are to get eye disease," says Ian. "Cataract is the main one."
He explains.
"The lens [in the eye] filters out the UV light, stopping it from getting to the retina [at the back of the eye], but over a lifetime of sunlight exposure, that lens will start to cloud up, and that's what a cataract is."

He says access to eye care in the Pacific is certainly not what we're used to in New Zealand.
"So we get to people who have had significant blurred vision, significant impairment and even both eyes blind from cataract. Basically, the Fred Hollows Foundation will remove them. Surgeons will go in and remove that cataract and restore people's vision. They take the lens out and a plastic intraocular lens goes back in."

Ian talks about people who have never seen their grandchildren, suddenly able to see again.
"Their world changes, just like that."

The operation takes less than half an hour.
"It's complex, but simple. Local anaesthetic, eyes completely numb, can't move the eye around, use a little instrument to remove the clouded lens, a little plastic lens goes in and unfolds. It's not major surgery in terms of healing time either.

"Over the years, I have provided eye care in Fiji [2014], Tanzania [2008] and Vanuatu [2011] and on top of this, have been fundraising for The Fred Hollows Foundation for the last few years. Last year I even ran a half-marathon to raise money for the cause. I'm grateful to have another opportunity to pass on my learning and experiences as an optometrist. I believe in this trip because it is not just about finding eye diseases, but about creating the backbone of a sustainable eye care system by training the Pacific's next generation of health professionals," says Ian.
"This time around it's going to be slightly different. I won't be involved in a clinic that's doing the operations."

At the PEI he will be training nurses who go out into the islands of the Pacific.
"They come to Suva for a year where the nurses get intensive eye training.
"They then go back to wherever they're based, where there are no eye surgeons. These nurses are it for their communities."

Ian loves the fact he's able to make a difference.

Specsavers will cover all Ian's costs on this trip. While Ian is away, Specsavers Whanganui will donate $5 from every eye exam to the Fred Hollows Foundation. Ian leaves on Saturday, May 26, works for the week and returns the following Saturday.