The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation brought the gift of clear sight to the remote island of Culebra, Puerto Rico, providing free vision care services to 318 local residents. The three-day clinic was held at the Culebra Fine Arts Center in partnership with the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry.
17 miles off the Puerto Rican mainland, Culebra’s 1,800 residents can face challenges in accessing essential health care, including vision care. With limited medical facilities and few specialized services on the island, residents must travel to the mainland for eye exams and prescription glasses, a journey that is both costly and time consuming. These barriers make it difficult for Culebra residents to receive routine vision care, even though clear sight is vital for learning, working and daily life.
Of the 318 residents screened during the vision clinic, there was a 94% need rate. Thanks to the Foundation’s onsite lens production capabilities and proven clinic model, most patients received their new, high-quality eyewear the same day.
“We are extremely proud of our beautiful island of Culebra and want our community to thrive,” said Hon. Edilberto “Junito” Romero Llovet, Mayor of Culebra. “We’re deeply grateful to the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation for bringing essential vision care to our residents, helping them live life to the fullest. Many didn’t realize just how much poor vision was affecting their daily lives until now.”
“We’re honored to partner with the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and provide our optometry students with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in their own communities,” said Dr. Iris Cabello, Dean of the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry. “This initiative truly reflects the purpose-driven nature of our profession. Through vision care, we have the privilege of transforming lives.”
“We know that limited access remains one of the greatest barriers to good vision,” said Becky Palm, Executive Director of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, North America. “That’s why it’s essential to reach communities that lack local vision care resources. Clear sight is a basic human right that everyone deserves, no matter where they live.”
This clinic is part of the Foundation’s broader commitment to eliminate uncorrected poor vision within a generation. Through mobile clinics and permanent vision centers, the Foundation works to expand access to quality vision care in underserved communities across North America and around the world.
To learn more about the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and how to support its work, visit www.onesight.essilorluxottica.com.
