An Armadale optometrist was raising money to help treat children living with serious eye conditions.
Specsavers Armadale was raising money from donations as well as donating a portion of its profits to Princess Margaret Hospital’s Ophthalmology Department.
Specsavers Armadale store partner Lauren Brown said the company had raised $15,000 in 2016 for preventer and treater of childhood illness organisation Bright Blue and she hoped it would exceed $20,000 this time.
“Seeing as we’re passionate about eye care we decided to send the funds over to PMH,” she said.
“There’ll be lots of different things it will go toward.
“Some of it will be childhood cancers, some would be muscle imbalances and diabetes.”
A 2008 report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare said there were about 411,000 cases of long-term eye disorders among children in Australia and about seven per cent of all Australian children suffered from long or short sightedness.
A 2002 report on Western Australian indigenous children found that about eight per cent of those aged four to 17-years did not have normal vision in both eyes.
Ms Brown said getting regular eye tests was crucial to maintaining whole body health.
“We do free eye tests (bulk billing) so there’s no reason somebody wouldn’t get their eyes tested,” she said.
“It’s really important to have them regularly done throughout your life.
“A test can pick up eye conditions but it can also pick up other conditions.
“The work the PMH Ophthalmology Department does is indispensable for children who have been diagnosed with serious illness.”
Ms Brown said the department was the only venue in WA offering paediatric eye care.
Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation executive officer Denys Pearce said the donations would be a great help.
“They will allow us to make a real and meaningful difference to the lives of children suffering from serious eye health issues,” he said.
Specsavers Armadale at Armadale Central will host a fun day on June 24 where five dollars from every eye test would be donated to the fundraised total.
Staff would also dress up and host a raffle in store.
Call 9399 4222 for more information.
