MASON, Ohio—In an effort to expand ongoing sustainable care programs for those in need, the Luxottica Group Foundation OneSight is partnering with Sightsavers International (SSI) on a key three-year program enabling OneSight volunteers to provide essential long-term vision care to Gambia, according to an announcement from OneSight.

More than 354,000 people in Gambia are affected by refractive error (blurred vision) and more than 163,000 need eyewear each year. The main goals of the SSI partnership are to strengthen existing primary eyecare centers and establish two local optical workshops, including community screening for refractive errors and referrals for further treatment.

As part of the partnership, Sightsavers and OneSight will also provide training for two local optometrists and 12 optometric technicians to help serve Gambia and the surrounding region. The effort is expected to serve 80,000 people.

“We are very proud to partner with one of the most important charities in the eyecare world,” said Greg Hare, executive director of OneSight. “Combining Sightsavers’ knowledge and established presence in countries where it operates with OneSight’s commitment to improve vision for those in need will help The Gambian government provide sustainable refractive services.”

Dr. Caroline Harper, chief executive of Sightsavers added, “Our partnership with OneSight will enable us to further our goal of a world where no one is blind from avoidable causes. The services that will be developed in The Gambia over the next few years will benefit so many people, enabling them to have their vision restored and to live independent and productive lives.”

The first clinic trip to Gambia is scheduled for this March with a follow-up planned for July 2011.

OneSight, a Luxottica Group Foundation, is a family of charitable vision care programs dedicated to improving vision through outreach, research and education. Since 1988, these charitable efforts have provided free vision care and eyewear to more than seven million people in need around the world and have granted millions of dollars towards optical research and education.

SSI is an international charity which works with partners to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote equality of opportunity for disabled people in the developing world. Sightsavers works to combat blindness in developing countries, restoring sight through specialist treatment and eyecare. The organization also supports people who are irreversibly blind by providing education, counseling and training.