Foundation helps the homeless  

The Manchester clinic in action

The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation hosted a vision care clinic in Manchester recently, providing free eye examinations and prescription eyewear to homeless people.  

The event ran for a week, with a dedicated day for disadvantaged families who fall outside NHS eligibility and have no access to eyecare.  

Simplyhealth sponsored the clinic, making it free of charge to patients, covering eyewear and operational costs. 

Nearly eight million people in the UK live with uncorrected poor vision, according to the Foundation.

Margarida Barata, its Europe programmes director, said: “Homelessness and poor vision are both isolating. Together, they can be devastating. This clinic is about breaking that cycle – because we know that when someone can see clearly, everything else becomes a little more possible.

“We’re grateful to have had the support of so many EssilorLuxottica colleagues and brands, including Vision Express, David Clulow, Optegra and HumanWare, who joined us at the clinic.”

The Manchester Homelessness Partnership, a cross-sector network uniting people with lived experience of homelessness, ensured the clinic reached those most in need. 

Val Bayliss-Brideaux, network and communication worker at the partnership, said: “Vision care is one of the most overlooked aspects of health for people experiencing homelessness in Manchester — and yet it impacts all facets of life. This partnership gave us the chance to address that in a real, practical way, and we are proud to have been part of it.” 

The Foundation works with local partners worldwide to deliver screenings, provide vision correction, and strengthen long-term access to sustainable vision care.