WRITER Amy Pillay

There are moments in life that leave a lasting impression and fundamentally change the way you view the world. For Amy Pillay, her recent trip to Vanuatu, in collaboration with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, was one of those moments.

For many people, Vanuatu is synonymous with crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, beautiful beaches, and warm, welcoming people. However, behind this tropical paradise lies a reality that many visitors never see – limited access to healthcare services, particularly eye care, for communities in Port Vila and the surrounding islands.

I was fortunate to be selected as part of the EssilorLuxottica OneSight volunteer team travelling to Vanuatu with a shared mission: to work alongside local communities. What unfolded over the following days was far more than an eye care outreach program. It was a powerful demonstration of collaboration, education, and community impact, demonstrating what can be achieved when different parts of the eye care ecosystem unite around a common purpose.

A TEAM UNITED BY PURPOSE

For this mission, 15 volunteers from across EssilorLuxottica Australia came together, representing a diverse range of roles including optometrists, dispensers, optical assistants, and managers.

Images by Ben McFadyen, Thesewildeyes.

Wayne Tennent, Amy Pillay, Rafina Daniels, and the Vanuatu Red Cross volunteers (above) and (below) Mario Basso, Professional Services Manager WA, viewing the eye health of a patient at the clinic.

There were two main objectives: to provide vision care to the local community through the OneSight charitable clinic; and to create a sustainable model of care alongside the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV) Health and Vanuatu Red Cross that would continue long after our departure.

ONESIGHT CLINIC

The OneSight clinic was led by Danielle Brooks, OneSight Program Manager, with Mario Basso, Professional Services Manager WA, leading the optometry partnership.

The impact of the clinic was significant. Over the course of the week, the team provided vision care to 887 people, with 801

pairs of prescription glasses dispensed or ordered, in addition to the many sunglasses distributed to help protect eyes from

Vanuatu’s intense UV exposure.

Mr Basso described the clinic as “incredibly rewarding” and “truly inspiring”. “Seeing the immediate difference that an eye examination or a pair of glasses can make reinforced the importance of programs like these and the impact they have on communities,” he told me. And I must agree.

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE VISION CARE

One of the most rewarding aspects of the trip was OneSight partnering with Vanuatu Red Cross and PCV Health to train eight community-based surveillance volunteers from Port Vila and the surrounding area.

Our first day focused on education. We presented on basic eye health principles with the volunteers. This included the importance of hand hygiene, keeping eyes clean, wearing protective eyewear, understanding the effects of UV exposure, recognising pterygium, and understanding cataract progression. We also trained them to assess near vision and provide ready-made reading glasses and sunglasses where appropriate.

We then put these learnings into practice.

We visited a community living on and around a rubbish tip, where access to clean water is limited and families rely on rainwater and nearby rivers. The community welcomed us with warmth, gratitude, and enthusiasm.

Several people received reading glasses and sunglasses for the first time. More importantly, the local volunteers gained practical skills and confidence that they could take back to their own communities. This is what sustainable vision care is all about – supporting local people with the knowledge and resources to continue making a difference long after the visiting team has returned home.

LOCAL CHAMPIONS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Another highlight of the trip was working alongside Rafina Daniels and Dick Naket from PCV Health. Both have been trained by visiting optometrists to perform basic refraction and vision assessments, and part of my role was to provide additional support, training, and feedback to help further develop their clinical skills. It was inspiring to see the confidence and competence they had built, accurately assessing both distance and near vision while recognising when referrals to hospital services were necessary.

Investing in local capability is essential to creating sustainable eye care services, and Ms Daniels and Mr Naket are excellent examples of how education and ongoing mentorship can empower healthcare workers to make a lasting impact within their communities.

I also worked closely with Wayne Tennent, Director of OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Oceania, to conduct an equipment review of the existing clinic. OneSight is exploring opportunities to partner with PCV Health and other charitable organisations, such as Christian Blind

Mission New Zealand, to further develop and enhance the clinic, helping to improve access to eye care for the local community.

We also had the opportunity to meet with local ophthalmologist Dr Nico Ly at the Port Vila National Hospital. During our discussions, he highlighted the prevalence of eye injuries, particularly knife-related trauma and lacerations in children. His insights reinforced the importance of community education, preventative eye health initiatives, and access to protective eyewear to help reduce avoidable vision impairment and injury.

A JOURNEY TO PELE ISLAND

One experience that will stay with me forever was travelling to Pele Island with Wayne Tennent.

Our mission was simple: To understand the challenges that these communities face with access to vision care services, and find ways to ensure that they can get the care that they deserve. In doing so, we transported residents to the OneSight clinic so they could receive much-needed eye care.

Among those waiting for us was 81-year-old Phoebe Stevens.

When we arrived, Ms Stevens was ready and waiting, having already gathered several other community members to join the trip. She welcomed us into her home and proudly showed us her current glasses. She explained that she struggled to read her Bible without additional light and that her vision had gradually become more challenging over time.

As we spoke, Ms Stevens shared what accessing eye care normally involved. A simple eye examination required travelling by boat to the main island, followed by more than an hour on a bus, waiting for an appointment, and then making the same journey home.

Red Cross volunteer Nehemiah, providing reading glasses to a community member (above), and Ms Pillay refining a patient’s prescription.

When transport costs, food expenses, and time away from family are considered, accessing eye care becomes financially and logistically out of reach for many island residents.

Ms Stevens brought her daughter-in-law, Betty, who had never owned a pair of reading glasses.

After receiving their eye assessments, both women were provided with reading glasses and sunglasses. The transformation was immediate. They could once again read comfortably, see clearly, and reduce the glare from Vanuatu’s bright white sand and intense tropical sunlight.

The joy on their faces was unforgettable.

There were hugs, photographs, laughter, and tears of gratitude. What stayed with me most was not the glasses themselves, but the joy and appreciation of receiving good vision.

LOOKING BEYOND THE PRESCRIPTION

My experience in Vanuatu reinforced the importance of accessible eye care and the profound impact it can have on individuals, families, and communities.

I learned a great deal from the people I met throughout the trip, particularly about resilience, community, and the importance of local leadership.

I returned home with a deeper appreciation for the power of collaboration and the importance of building sustainable models of care. When optometrists, dispensers, ophthalmologists, community organisations, healthcare providers, and volunteers come together, the impact extends far beyond vision correction.

It strengthens opportunities for education, independence, and participation within communities.

For me, this was far more than a volunteer trip. It was a reminder that meaningful change happens when local communities, healthcare providers, and partner organisations work together to strengthen services that can be sustained long into the future.

Amy Pillay is an optometrist and the Professional Affairs Manager at EssilorLuxottica. Her professional journey spans roles as an optical dispenser, managing optometrist, professional services manager, and now Professional Affairs Manager, providing her with a deep and practical understanding of clinical practice and industry dynamics.

With a strong clinical foundation and a particular focus on myopia management, contact lenses, and spectacle lenses, Ms Pillay plays a key role in driving industry collaboration, education, and innovation.