At Light Without Borders, we provide free optometry services and eye care to children and adults in refugee camps in Greece. Through partnerships with organizations like the Suyana Foundation, OneSight EssilorLuxottica, and a local optical company, we aim to promote vision care among the most vulnerable communities, always prioritizing the dignity and respect of refugees.
The process begins with registering refugees, ensuring that they are treated with dignity and respect from the first moment, recognizing their humanity and individual stories.
Preliminary vision screenings are conducted days before the arrival of the specialist, ensuring that each person receives the attention they deserve in a timely and efficient manner.
We work closely with local refugee communities and other organizations, involving refugees as volunteers to help them become an integral part of the process.
Our medical expeditions typically last one or two weeks, serving between 25 to 40 patients per day. Each appointment lasts 15 to 20 minutes, during which we ensure that every patient is heard and respected, giving them the time they need.
After the eye measurements, patients select their frames in our “glasses boutique area,” where we help them choose frames that reflect their personality and needs. This process is not just about vision; it’s about empowering patients with choice and ensuring they feel valued.
For those without astigmatism, OneSight Essilor Luxottica provides Ready2Clip glasses, allowing patients to take their glasses immediately, a valuable solution in remote or hard-to-reach areas.
For patients needing custom glasses, prescriptions are sent to a local optical company in Athens, which produces the glasses for free. This step reflects our commitment to offering complete, dignified service, ensuring every person is treated as someone deserving the best care.
Glasses are delivered during follow-up visits or sent via courier, depending on the camp location. Throughout this process, we make sure to uphold our mission of humanizing and dignifying each person.
During the expeditions, we identify special cases that require additional medical attention, such as cataracts or strabismus. These patients receive personalized care, ensuring they feel respected and valued throughout the process. Severe cases are referred to an eye hospital in Athens, where we manage appointments, surgeries, and follow-ups, treating each individual with dignity.
Volunteers from different communities play an essential role in organizing lists, supporting vision screenings, translating, and delivering glasses. Their involvement not only helps us operate but also fosters community solidarity and shows that dignity and respect are at the core of every interaction.
Volunteers’ participation helps strengthen ties between different nationalities, demonstrating that empathy and dignity are key in every step of the process.
Our mobile clinic regularly visits refugee camps in southern Greece, including Malakasa, Ritsona, Schistos, Ynofyta, and Thiva, as well as in northern Greece in Thessaloniki and Kleidi. At each location, we ensure that every person receives the dignified and respectful treatment they deserve.
Light Without Borders is dedicated to restoring vision and hope for underserved communities, providing essential eye care to those in need and empowering individuals to see a brighter future.