Helping To Cure Blindness

May 23, 2019

Preventable blindness is set to affect more than 115 million people by 2050, even though 80% of blindness worldwide is reversible or preventable with early diagnosis. Halma’s Gift of Sight campaign is raising awareness of this issue around the world, by offering to support eye health screenings of its 6,000+ employees at their place of work.

Andrew Williams, Group Chief Executive, said: “Blindness creates social dependency, reduces the workforce, shortens lives, and robs children of education. As companies within Halma produce the world’s leading eye health technology, we want to raise awareness of the importance of good eye health through regular screening, and at the same time, collectively raise up to $200,000 for the Himalayan Cataract Project – an international NGO focused on curing blindness in underserved communities.”

Keeler employees had their eye screenings at the beginning of May 2019 and Halma donated $25 per employee that participated to the Cure Blindness Project. The eye health screenings tested for Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy – some of the leading causes of preventable blindness across the world today. Some screenings also examined visual acuity, took fundus images, and measured intra-ocular pressure.

Keeler Americas and Keeler UK were enthusiastic about being able to take part in such an amazing cause.

Christine Harajda, sales and marketing executive, Keeler, said: “I feel very passionate about my eye health because my mother’s eyesight is so poor. Several years ago, my mother had an operation for a detached retina and so I take my own eye health quite seriously – I regularly get my eyes tested and my friends often laugh because I will always wear sunglasses to protect my eyes.”

Katarzyna Bugajska, supply chain and purchasing assistant, Keeler, said: “It’s really nice to have your employer provide something like that – something that looks after your health. I was aware that my glasses needed changing, but now I’ve had that confirmed.”