A Fiji family sporting their new sunnies. Credit: ODA

Optical Dispensers Australia (ODA) has launched the South Pacific Eye Care Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing eye health and reducing preventable vision impairment in disadvantaged communities across Australia and developing regions of the South Pacific.

The foundation provides a dedicated platform to expand ODA’s charitable impact in the region by creating meaningful opportunities for dispensing opticians (DOs) to contribute to eyecare outreach, said co-founder April Petrusma, CEO of ODA.

“Many established eyecare charities have traditionally centred on the clinical roles of ophthalmologists or optometrists. While these organisations are absolutely vital and perform necessary work in preventing avoidable blindness and strengthening eyecare systems, there are relatively few avenues specifically designed for DOs to apply their unique skills to improve quality of life for people living with undiagnosed refractive errors.”

April Petrusma

The foundation aims to fill this gap by actively engaging DOs in charitable initiatives, she said. “Through the ODA outreach, dispensers can support communities with limited access to eyecare, while also empowering the profession to play a greater role in improving vision outcomes across the South Pacific.”

Since 2024, the ODA outreach in Fiji has screened more than 2,300 people and dispensed 1,107 pairs of free prescription spectacles, Petrusma said. “In the future, we will expand our work to other countries in the region, including in Australia.”

A team of volunteers for the upcoming Fiji outreach for July is already confirmed and includes 13 DOs, two optometrists and, for the first time, one ophthalmologist, Petrusma said. Applications for the 2027 outreach will open in November and ODA members who are qualified DOs or optometrists are welcome to apply, she said.