VOSH Waterloo 2.26

VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity) is a not-for-profit international agency that has been in operation since 1971. Our mandate is to facilitate the provision and sustainability of vision care worldwide to people who can neither afford nor obtain such care.

VOSH Waterloo is a chapter of VOSH International. Each year, Waterloo Optometry students and practicing optometrists collaborate with other North American VOSH chapters to embark on mission trips around the world. In 2016, 45 dedicated volunteers were sent to underserved communities of Moldova, Ecuador, and Peru. At clinic, we provide optometric care in the form of ocular health checks, eyewear, and medical treatment. Each trip is approximately 2 weeks long, and 400-700 patients are typically seen per day.

90% of people that are blind or visually impaired live in developing countries, with 80% of blindness being preventable. Nearly 1 billion people do not have access to glasses, meaning 15% of the world's population is unable to effectively learn or work as a result. VOSH restores more than vision. It allows individuals to regain independence, return to work and reimagine the future.