Armen’s Glasses

With Armenia’s rampant poverty something as simple as a pair of eyeglasses is not available to more than 90 million people

With Armenia’s rampant poverty something as simple as a pair of eyeglasses is not available to more than 90 million people, explained Richard Hill, Armenian Eye Care Project physician. This was true for 12-year-old Armen, who had been suffering from poor eyesight ever since he was six-years-old.

Trying to explain to the doctors how he is unable to see, Armen says, “I can’t see well, my eyes burn, they hurt…I can’t see what’s on the blackboard. I have to go up to the board to take notes.” Armen is from a small poverty stricken village in Armenia where there is no doctor or clinic. Furthermore, eye glasses and an eye exam were impossible to obtain due to his family’s financial situation.

Armen’s poor vision affected all areas of his life including school where he did not study because he simply could not see well. Armen’s mother felt helpless for the six years that her son has had problems with his eyesight. “Well what can we do? He has always complained about his sight, but when there’s no means, it just stays like that.”

Fortunately, it didn’t stay that way for long. The Armenian Eye Care project was able to address her concern when they launched an eyeglass distribution system in her village. Through the program, they provided eye screenings and glasses to thousands of children. Roger V. Ohanesian, founder and Chairman of the Armenian Eye care Project, spoke on behalf of their efforts, “It’s the easiest way to correct blindness in some people. They’re literally blind because they’re not wearing glasses.”

Armen was able to receive a screening and a pair of glasses that saved his sight. And when his sight was returned he also had restored enthusiasm for his studies

Armen smiles as he exclaims, “I can see well now!” Thanks to The Armenian Eye care Project many children in Armen’s village can now say the same thing.