A state-of-the-art device has been donated to help save the sight of people in a war-torn region of the Far East.
Specsavers Honiton was approached by Dr Phillip Ambler, a volunteer for the charity Fiona's Eye Fund, who informed the staff about the plight of thousands of people being displaced in Myanmar due to ongoing military attacks.
Dr Ambler explained that many of those suffering on the Myanmar-Thai border could have their lives significantly improved if they had access to cataract surgery.
In response, the High Street opticians donated a hand-held keratometer, a device used to take precise measurements of a patient's eye before sight-saving operations.
Dr Ambler, who lives in Axminster, said: "We’re intensely grateful to Specsavers Honiton for the donation of this essential equipment.
"Fiona’s Eye Fund is a very small charity doing life-changing work, and we simply wouldn’t be able to afford equipment like this.
"The equipment gives us very accurate feedback rather than us guessing, meaning that we can be sure that the patient’s sight will be in focus after surgery.
"If one person loses their sight, another has to look after them, so you’re then losing two people out of their limited economy, which in turn affects whole families.
"So this device will have a phenomenal effect not only on individual lives but also on whole communities."
Dr Ambler first went to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, in 1990, and since then, he and his colleagues have treated thousands of eye problems, performing many sight-saving cataract surgeries.
The efforts have been supported by the training of people to assist with the work, enabling more regular treatments.
Farrah Chaudhry, director at Specsavers Honiton, said: "We’re delighted to be able to donate this equipment to Dr Ambler and his colleagues.
"The work they’re doing under very difficult circumstances is incredible.
"They really are making a difference in people’s lives, and we’re so pleased to be playing a small part in assisting with that."
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