{"id":32923,"date":"2023-05-04T14:33:41","date_gmt":"2023-05-04T21:33:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clearly.ca\/thelook\/?p=32923"},"modified":"2023-05-04T14:33:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-04T21:33:43","slug":"clearly-for-community-goes-to-bella-bella","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clearly.ca\/thelook\/clearly-for-community-goes-to-bella-bella\/","title":{"rendered":"Clearly for Community goes to Bella Bella"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As part of Our Mission<\/a> to eliminate poor vision, we\u2019re doing what we can to make sure everyone has access to the eye care and eyewear they need \u2013 and regular eye exams are the starting point for healthy eyesight.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Canada\u2019s cities and urban areas, it\u2019s relatively easy to make it to a Clearly store or another optometrist\u2019s office for an eye exam. But in remote communities that don\u2019t have a local eye doctor, these basic healthcare services aren\u2019t always readily available.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Clearly for Community team<\/a> learned that many children in Bella Bella, BC hadn\u2019t had a recent eye exam (and that some had never <\/em>had an eye exam), we decided to bring our clinic to their doorstep. During an incredible week of eye exams and spontaneous glasses fashion shows, we helped approximately 100 children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn about our recent adventures in Bella Bella and the amazing people we met while we were there.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Bella Bella?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Car<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bella Bella is located on Heiltsuk Territory on the west coast of British Columbia.\u202fThis beautiful, remote coastal community is home to 1,600 people \u2013 many of whom are children who lacked access to necessary eye care.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Alisa Lipson, a pediatrician who works closely with the Bella Bella community, noticed the need for vision services amongst her young patients \u2013 but, from Bella Bella, access to eye care is a 500-kilometre journey.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children should see an optometrist once a year, but most kids in Bella Bella had never had an eye exam before.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of our kids, if they have serious vision problems, are cared for through ophthalmology at BC Children\u2019s Hospital. But for the kids that just need more ordinary vision care, they still have to go outside the community\u2026 They\u2019d to go to Nanaimo or they\u2019d have to fly to Vancouver just to get a proper vision test,\u201d Dr. Lipson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story that started it all<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Vision<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One day, when a young patient of Dr. Lipson\u2019s showed up to an appointment with broken glasses and no way of getting them replaced, she decided to take action and reach out to Clearly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI could see that he couldn\u2019t even see through them. [His mother said] he has to get new glasses. These are his old ones. He broke his new ones. He can\u2019t even see through his old ones. And we need a new prescription. But we can\u2019t even get out of Bella Bella because there was no room on the flights,\u201d Dr. Lipson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She connected with Dr. Justin Asgarpour, optometrist and Chief Vision and Mission Officer at Clearly, and explained the need for vision care services in Bella Bella.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of our Free Glasses for Kids program<\/a>, we already provide children aged 10 and under with free prescription eyewear exclusively at all Clearly stores. We were excited by the opportunity to extend access to eye care to the children in Bella Bella \u2013 and the Clearly for Community team kicked into action!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our mobile eye care clinic<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Team<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Clearly for Community team members were joined by not one but two Dr. Asgarpours, from Asgarpour Optometry. On February 21, 2023 they all travelled from Clearly Headquarters in Vancouver to Bella Bella.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team caught the sea bus around 7am each day to set up a mobile eye care clinic at the local school. From 8am-3pm, they saw a steady stream of patients. This involved: <\/p>\n\n\n\n