Since 2020, a special initiative has been delivering eye health workshops, screening, and eye tests, for children in Birmingham.
With its football-themed eye care workshops, and recognisable mobile eye care van, optometrists with Villa Vision visit schools and communities to educate children on the importance of eye care.
In recognition of World Sight Day, and the focus on children’s eye health, OT spoke with Nikhil Sonpal, optometrist and Villa Vision project manager, about the difference the initiative has made, engaging children in their own eye health, and encouraging positive habits.
What does the World Sight Day 2024 theme of children’s eye health mean to the Villa Vision team?
It is wonderful that children’s eye health has been given the spotlight at this year’s World Sight Day. Having delivered our Villa Vision eye health initiative to thousands of children, we have a first-hand understanding of the negative effect of poor sight on a child, and conversely, the positive impact that improved sight can have on a child’s development and overall potential. This simple intervention can make a significant difference in helping to shape a child’s future.
Villa Vision
How many children has Villa Vision provided eye health education or screenings for?
Villa Vision was proud to pass a significant milestone this year by reaching over 15,000 individual interventions since the programme commenced in 2020. This has been through a combination of 8000 children experiencing our educational workshops, 7000 receiving a vision and colour vision screening check, and around 350 children having a comprehensive eye test within our fully equipped mobile eye care van. Consequently, around 475 pairs of free glasses have been dispensed (two per child) to children who would have otherwise struggled in the classroom with poor vision.
15,000
individual interventions made by Villa Vision since 2020
How is the Villa Vision initiative proceeding? Are there plans to develop the project further?
Having proven a successful delivery model through our achievements within Birmingham, Villa Vision is currently exploring new opportunities to develop both a local and national growth strategy for this initiative. This has been made possible with continued support from the Premier League, Aston University, EssilorLuxottica, and our new collaborating partner, The Wesleyan Foundation. Together we are actively discussing potential expansion plans for the programme, so I am confident that the future looks bright for Villa Vision.
What have you learnt about how children can be engaged in their own eye health through delivering Villa Vision?
The way in which Villa Vision has been able to successfully empower children to take ownership of their eye health has been one of our standout successes, with the majority of children telling us that they will do more to look after their eyes following our classroom workshops. Our unique approach of using football as the hook for eye health education has shown us how powerful this can be in inspiring children to make their eye health a priority.
The way in which Villa Vision has been able to successfully empower children to take ownership of their eye health has been one of our standout successes
What change would you like to see for children’s eye health?
Personally, I would really like to see us reach a stage where all primary school children have regular eye tests as part of their routine health care. We are still finding that a quarter of children that we engage with are reaching Year five and six having never had an eye test, so instilling the right habits at a young age can only have a positive benefit as they enter adulthood. I feel one way to achieve this is by continuing to educate both children and their families on the topic of eye health, which has proven to be successful with Villa Vision’s local intervention.
Find out more about Nikhil’s role in OT’s How I Got Here feature.
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