Christian optometric associations deliver eye care to Kenyans

Eyes of Faith president and co-founder Jim Schneider will join Sight Ministries International representatives — two doctors, and five opticians — on a mission trip to provide eye exams and eyeglasses, reading glasses and sunglasses to more than 1,600 Kenyan citizens, according to an Eyes of Faith press release.

Nearly $11,000 was raised by Eyes of Faith, the Fellowship of Christian Optometrists International, Sight Ministries International and individual opticians and doctors who support the Eyes of Faith brand to assemble the doctor-optician team and fund the trip, the release said.

"Like Eyes of Faith, we exist to serve God and to provide vision and hope to people who need it most," Glenn Ellisor, OD, Sight Ministries board member, and founder and chief executive officer of Vision Source, said in the release. "Our respective missions are strengthened by our partnership and when we can work together like this, it means we have the opportunity to touch more lives in more places."

Ellisor and Schneider assisted the Sight Ministries team during the 2011 Kenya mission trip.

Through their Wear & Share program, the Eyes of Faith Foundation donates a complete pair of prescription glasses, sunglasses, or readers to Sight Ministries for every frame sold. These Wear & Share donations provide eye wear for Sight Ministries' missions to Kenya, Turkey, Panama, Peru and many other countries where eye care is not readily available. To facilitate successful missions, Sight Ministries partners with missionaries and indigenous pastors to conduct multiple eye clinics where visitors can receive eye exams and prescription glasses, reading glasses and sunglasses at little or no cost, the release said.