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Optometry Giving Sight is a global fundraising initiative that targets the prevention of blindness & impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error. Join Dr. Darryl Glover as he sits down with Dr. Nikki Earich to explore the groundbreaking initiatives of Optometry Giving Sight. From empowering communities with sustainable eye care solutions to the profound impact of correcting refractive errors worldwide, this episode uncovers how a passion for optometry and education is changing lives. Whether you’re an optometry professional or simply curious about the transformative power of vision care, you won’t want to miss this inspiring conversation. Get ready to discover how small actions, like providing a pair of glasses, can make a monumental difference in people’s lives across the globe.
Key Topics :
Who is Nikki Earich?
Dr. Darryl Glover:
We talk about changing the game, and you’re really doing that by helping people see day in and day out. But before we get too far, I like to know who I’m talking to. Can you share a bit about yourself, where you’re from, a fun fact, and how you got into your current position? Let’s kick it off, Nikki.
Dr. Nikki Earich:
Sure, thanks for having me. Like many in our industry, I originally wanted to be a rock and roll star. While in law school, I started working at my dad’s optometry practice and loved it—helping patients and picking out glasses. My mom and I decided to open an optical shop next to my dad’s practice when the space became available. My brother joined, and we eventually opened multiple stores, which were later acquired by MyEyeDr.
I continued in the industry, consulting and training other practices. I also ran a nonprofit in the education space in my community. About a year ago, I found this role that combines my passion for optometry and education, focusing on addressing uncorrected refractive error.
Mission and Initiatives of Optometry Giving Sight
Dr. Darryl Glover:
So, let’s break down Optometry Giving Sight. Earlier, I mentioned some alarming stats: 80% of visual impairments globally are preventable, with 90% of those in developing countries, and the number one cause being uncorrected refractive errors. How does Optometry Giving Sight address this issue? You’ve done an incredible job, raising nearly a million dollars through training, establishing clinics, and delivering care. Could you give us an overview of each of these pillars and walk us through what it looks like?
Dr. Nikki Earich:
Absolutely. First, let’s clarify our mission. Optometry Giving Sight is exactly what our name implies: it’s about providing vision care through optometry. We aim to be a vehicle for anyone in the optometry field—whether you’re an OD, a student, an optician, or a company involved in the industry—to contribute to scalable and sustainable programs. These programs focus on education, training, and establishing centers to deliver accessible and equitable eye and vision care to those in need worldwide.
We accomplish this through vision care centers, building optometry schools, and other programs as long as they are optometry-led. This looks different in various parts of the world due to different levels of development and recognition of optometry as a healthcare science. In some countries, establishing a school is a massive, long-term project, so we start with vision centers. These can be set up more quickly, allowing us to train optometric techs and provide immediate, sustainable care to the local population while working towards the larger goal of building optometry schools.
For example, a few years ago, we funded a project for a group of nuns near Mount Kilimanjaro who had been trained to perform eye exams. They needed $5,000 for a new fundus camera, and we were happy to provide it. Similarly, we support projects where optometrists train teachers who can reach remote areas of their communities. The need for vision care is constant and widespread, and we can make a significant impact by training individuals who are eager to help their communities.
We train various professionals, including a new category created in developing nations to meet the demand for leadership among eye care professionals. We collaborate with the World Council of Optometry to develop programs like the Optometry Professional Advocacy Leadership (OPAL) program, which trains leaders to act as advocates and intermediaries between eye care professionals and their governments.
Our efforts have resulted in the establishment of 14 schools or vision centers in 13 countries, including Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya, Vietnam, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Eritrea. These centers not only provide immediate care but also create a ripple effect. Graduates return to teach the next generation, exemplifying sustainable, long-term development.
The Importance of Sustainable Vision Care
Dr. Darryl Glover:
It’s truly remarkable. The sustainability of your efforts stands out to me. Providing eye exams and glasses is great, but training, educating, and building vision centers and schools that enable communities to take care of themselves—that’s transformative. It improves employment opportunities, quality of life, and overall happiness by simply addressing vision problems. A pair of glasses can make a world of difference.
Dr. Darryl Glover:
It’s not just kind of remarkable; it’s very remarkable. What I love about your approach is the focus on sustainability. It’s great to provide eye exams and give glasses, but a one-and-done job only goes so far. Training, educating, building vision centers and optometry schools, and empowering the community to take care of itself—that makes a world of difference. It creates jobs, improves quality of life, and makes the world a better place by addressing uncorrected refractive error. A simple pair of glasses can have a huge impact.
Dr. Nikki Earich:
It does make a huge difference. Here, we take so much for granted. You can practically go online and refract yourself, order glasses by the dozen, or pick them up quickly. In developing nations, people often don’t even realize they’re not seeing as well as they could. We need to start with the basics. We need to build the infrastructure just to get people in chairs to refract them before we can even talk about managing myopia.
Putting a pair of glasses on someone so a child can see the chalkboard or an adult can work and earn a living is life-changing. In this country, if someone loses their glasses, they can order another pair. But in developing nations, if a person gets their first pair of glasses and then loses or breaks them, they go back to their previous quality of life, which is a huge setback. Missions are important and serve their purpose, especially for those receiving services and for optometry students gaining experience. But a once-a-year mission doesn’t address the ongoing needs of these communities.
Global and Local Impact Projects
Dr. Darryl Glover:
Imagine being minus seven diopters and losing your glasses. Your whole world changes when you get that first pair, and losing them means going back to a diminished quality of life. The sustainable approach—building clinics and schools, training and educating—is touching. It takes a lot of work, resources, funding, and volunteers to make this happen. You’re bringing people from all over the world to make a difference. While there’s a lot of need in our own backyard, like in Raleigh, Durham, North Carolina, where people need glasses and eye care, the work you’re doing globally is truly inspiring.
Dr. Nikki Earich:
Thank you. We do work with partners on projects in North America because there is need here, too, especially in rural parts of the U.S. and Canada. For example, access to care is a big challenge in rural Canada for some indigenous peoples. We’ve funded projects in these areas, as some parts of the U.S. also face conditions similar to developing nations.
We grant about 20 to 24 projects each year, totaling around a million dollars. We’re always aiming to raise more to support these projects. One of our partners, Canadian Vision Care, led by Dr. Alan Jones, does incredible work. He creates innovative, multi-use handheld devices and runs projects in developing nations. He uses shipping containers to create vision centers, equipping them with the necessary tools like slit lamps and fundus cameras. Once landed, he modifies the containers into functioning clinics and trains locals to run them. It’s a win-win, providing practical skills and sustainable care.
Dr. Darryl Glover:
I’d love to see that process from start to finish. Getting all the equipment in there, shipping it, and setting it up sounds like a fascinating journey. It must be a tremendous effort, but incredibly rewarding.
Dr. Nikki Earich:
It is. I can send you pictures. It’s amazing to see it all come together. Dr. Jones and his team do phenomenal work. It’s replicable, meaning we can apply this model in other places, making a lasting impact wherever it’s implemented.
Funding and Donation Initiatives
Dr. Darryl Glover:
Definitely. Now, Nikki, I want to pivot back to donations and funding. For those listening to the podcast, whether live or on platforms like iTunes or our website, what’s the best way for someone to donate?
Dr. Nikki Earich:
Our website, givingsight.org, is a great resource. In a few weeks, we’ll launch a new initiative called Team OGS—Together Eyecare Achieves Miracles. The idea is that if we all give a little, we can make a big difference. Everyone in this industry, whether an eye doctor or an optician, joined to improve people’s lives through better vision. We can all contribute, even if it’s just a small amount.
We’ll send out welcome kits with various ways to engage your practices or optical shops in supporting us with minimal effort and expense. For instance, you could become a monthly donor, giving $10 monthly. Or your optical dispensary could participate in “Pick a Pair,” donating a percentage of your monthly proceeds.
The Bausch & Lomb TerraCycle One for One Program is a more passive option. Collect blister packs and used contact lenses and send them in for free. TerraCycle then donates them to OGS. Another option is the credit card processing company Chip In, which donates a percentage of its fee to a charity of your choice. We hope you choose Optometry Giving Sight. They even offer a free comparison to see if they can beat your current processing rates.
Dr. Darryl Glover:
I love that.
Dr. Nikki Earich:
The Team OGS Welcome Kit has all these options. You can choose to participate in any or all of them. Our other major fundraiser is the World Sight Day Challenge in September and October. IAPB established World Sight Day on the second Thursday of October, October 10th this year. For 19 years, we’ve encouraged everyone to raise as much money as possible during these months. Practices, doctors, companies, and students all find creative ways to raise funds, whether it’s donating a day’s worth of fees, holding bake sales, or organizing 5K runs.
We want to spread our message within the industry and to patients, educating them on the importance of vision care. Our website is a great place to learn more and see impact stories. And if you’re attending the Academy meeting in November, come visit us at booth 326.
Final Thoughts and Contact Information
Dr. Darryl Glover:
So for those wanting to get in touch with you outside of the website and conferences, is there an email or social media contact they can use?
Dr. Nikki Earich:
Sure. My email is nikki.earich@givingsight.org. You can also find me on LinkedIn. I’m always happy to talk to optometrists—they’re my favorite people. My dad was an optometrist, and I genuinely believe they are the kindest group I’ve encountered.
Dr. Darryl Glover:
Well, Nikki, if you could leave one last message for all the listeners and followers out there, what would it be? The floor is yours.
Dr. Nikki Earich:
I’d like to echo your sentiment: when you give sight, you change lives. It makes a world of difference. We’re extraordinarily grateful to those who contribute. Putting a pair of glasses on a child who can then see, or helping someone maintain their dignity and ability to work, or allowing senior citizens to maintain their independence, truly changes lives. If you can help us help others do that, it’s a beautiful thing.
