The need for eye health in developing countries among under-privileged people is very real. We’re proud to support international eye health with our very own initiative, Fight for Sight.

Founded by Raheem Remtulla in 2004, Fight for Sight is our program of collecting used glasses and in conjunction with the University of Waterloo School of Optometry, providing them to people in need all over the world.

The program began by enlisting the assistance of Ontario high school students to collect old glasses, as well as those collected right here in Dr. Ahmed’s Optometry. These used glasses are donated to the University of Waterloo School of Optometry.

First and second-year students of the U of W School of Optometry repair the spectacles as required, determine the prescriptions and catalogue them. Third and fourth-year students travel to third world projects in places such as Jamaica, India and China performing eye examinations for those in need and prescribing the closest specs from the inventory that we have helped collect. They look at the frames and prescriptions in stock and determine the best frames for each patient. No other gift of sight program provides an educational experience for students as well as the gift of much needed glasses for those that otherwise could not afford them.

With the continued support of Marilyn Smith, RO – Clinic Faculty Lecturer at the University of Waterloo, each student is awarded a certificate of appreciation by the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo, as well as accumulating volunteer hours towards their high school degree.

“I have had the wonderful experience of first hand being involved with prescribing glasses in the Fish Clinic in Kingston Jamaica and was moved by reactions of local area residents when they put on glasses for the first time. This is a cause worthy of contributing to and is so easy.”

—Dr. Sabrina Ahmed

To date Fight for Sight has collected more than 1500 glasses.