Maskwacis Education Schools Commission (MESC) held a successful vision clinic from April 28 to May 2, in partnership with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, LensCrafters and Operation Eyesight Universal.
By May 1, they were on target for 600 students to receive new eye glasses, said Heather Littlechild, MESC coordinator of inclusive education.
"It's a very busy week, but worth it," she said.
Most of the participants left the clinic with their newly-prescribed glasses, made onsite due to OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation’s clinic model and manufacturing capabilities, along with LensCrafters' doctors and team members staffing the clinic.
The clinic was not open to the public and all students participating were pre-registered.
Planning, preparing for, and implementing the clinic was a massive undertaking that took two years to be realized.
"The reason we're doing it is for knowledge of eyesight and overall health and learning," said Littlechild.
It all began with creating a resource with elders ahead of time that was presented in classrooms across the MESC district.
In a PowerPoint presentation, a voice over from a local elder in Cree explained the cultural significance and importance of eyes, to be able to see and do good things, Littlechild explained.
"(The) cultural component - that was really important to us to maintain our identity and the promotion of eye health."
Before the clinic could take place, screenings were done of 1,200 students in grades K to 6 from seven of MESC's schools, taking 20 personnel four months to complete between September and December, 2024.
Littlechild added a major purpose of holding the clinic was knowledge and how a pair of eye glasses can change the trajectory of learning and school.
There is already access to optometry care in the community, so the clinic was more about that cultural and awareness piece as they were finding a lot of kids were reluctant to wear glasses, said Littlechild.
"Now with the knowledge, and now (that) we have the tools for better eyesight, that stigma (against wearing glasses) will hopefully go away," she said.
"I'm really happy to see that it's going so well and the impact it's had on our kids because they're now excited to wear glasses."
Coming full circle, between 10 to 20 elders from the community also participated in the clinic.
Elder Flora Northwest was the first to go through the clinic and as it turns out, she does need glasses.
"She's very excited about getting them," said Littlechild, adding Northwest continued to be involved with the clinic throughout the week, coming almost everyday to help out and talk with the kids.
The final result of the clinic is more people are taking care of their eyes which makes the clinic a success, she said.
Any of the remaining students who were identified during the screening but weren't able to be seen at the clinic will be referred to Maskwacis Optical and will still be able to receive glasses, said Littlechild.
She said the partnership with OneSight and LensCrafters will continue as there's more MESC wants to do in the community.
"This isn't a one-and-done. We want to continue."
MESC is a treaty-based education authority that operates 11 schools focused on the needs of Maskwacis Cree students.
MESC has been working with Operation Eyesight Universal since 2023 to help promote the eye health needs for MESC students, according to a press release.
Founded in 1963 in Calgary, Operation Eyesight Universal is an international development organization working to prevent blindness and restore sight.
"Whether it is an eye exam and a pair of eyeglasses or a more complex eye surgery, Operation Eyesight believes that everyone, everywhere should have access to affordable, quality eye health care services 'For All The World To See.'"
Learn more about Operation Eyesight at operationeyesight.com.
