Written by: Katie Romano

Posted on Aug 22, 2012

Eyeglass Project- Vimeo from Hunter Vision on Vimeo.

In December of 2011, Hunter Vision began a mission. That mission was called THE EYEGLASS PROJECT. We realized that once our patients received LASIK, their eyeglasses quickly lost their purpose. What better way to serve than to allow those glasses to be repurposed to provide sight to someone in need?

Hunter Vision was able to partner with TIME Ministries in the Dominican Republic, along with Northland, A Church Distributed, and bring glasses to those in the Dominican Republic who were in need of them. With the mission and the location in place, wonderful organizations around Central Florida collected gently used eyeglasses for this cause—Northland Church, Summit Church, Track Shack, Downtown Credo, and the RDV Sportsplex. As a result, 1,500 pairs of eyeglasses were shipped to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

On May 26, 2012, a team of 10 volunteers boarded a flight to Santo Domingo to redistribute those eyeglasses. The team ran three days of clinics. In those three days, the team was able to vision test 400 patients. After testing, those in need of glasses were then able to be fitted with an appropriate pair.

The experience was an amazing one. People who were legally blind had their sight fully restored with a simple pair of glasses. Men and women who could no longer read on their own, now have clear vision. Grandparents can now see the faces of their grandchildren. Children will be now able to read their lessons and receive a better education.

You may have thought you were simply getting rid of some old glasses but know, that because of your donations, lives were changed. We are so thankful for the Central Florida community. What a blessing and an honor it has been to serve along side you in this effort.

THE EYEGLASS PROJECT 2012, is the first of what will be many. Our goal is to help people see this world better. You have made that happen.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
The Hunter Vision Team

Written by: Elizabeth Hunter

Posted on Jan 13, 2012

Happy New Year!

It is the time of year to make our resolutions and to decide how to better our lives. As we are testing will power and perseverance in our own lives, why not, in one more simple act, make someone else’s better.

THE EYEGLASS PROJECT is well underway and we’ve experienced an amazing outpouring of generosity from the community. We have accumulated about 700 pairs of glasses between drop locations in Hunter Vision, the RDV Sportsplex, and Northland Church. 

As we continue on this venture, we are adding some drop locations through Track Shack. If you are a runner as I am not, you can drop off any eyeglass donations at packet pick-up for all Track Shack races. As Hunter Vision proudly sponsors Track Shack, we will also have a Hunter Vision booth at all Track Shack races. If you are running or cheering or just staring in amazement that people can run so far and fast without being chased by a tiger (That’s me. I do that. While eating a churro.), bring your used eyeglasses and drop them off at our booth.

700 pairs donated and more to come! Isn’t this fun?

Posted on Dec 22, 2011

Press Release

Written by: Elizabeth Hunter

Posted on Dec 16, 2011

Watching a community rally together for the welfare of others is a humbling and beautiful thing to behold. I feel so blessed to get to join with you in this effort.

After just the first weekend of donation collection for The Eyeglass Project, we already have well over 400 pairs. That is a lot of lives to be changed.

Thank you so much for your generosity. As we are accruing glasses donations, we are also solidifying the details of our trip to the Dominican Republic. We have our visit on the calendar for May 2012. Time to install my Rosetta Stone! TIME Ministries will be providing translators but I would at least like to be able to talk about the weather and ask for directions by May. I’m already pretty solid on my colors and animal names.

If you are interested in donating eyeglasses, we will maintain drop locations at both Hunter Vision (located in the RDV Sportsplex) and at Northland Church. In addition, Hunter Vision will have booths set up at the following events over the next week:

Joy to the World
Central Florida Community Arts Christmas Spectacular
December 16th at 7:30 PM at Northland Church
(This is an organization very near and dear to my heart. You should check them out. They are a wonderful gift to our community.  www.cfcommunityarts.com)

Light Up UCF
December 17th from 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM at the UCF Arena

Posted on Dec 13, 2011

Orlando Sentinel Blog

Written by: Elizabeth Hunter

Posted on Dec 8, 2011

In a world where we have access to all kinds of luxuries, it is hard to imagine living life without access to something as simple as sight. If we can’t see the newspaper, we buy a pair of readers. If our world is blurry, we get a new glasses prescription.

The large majority of us have some sort of refractive error that requires a simple pair of glasses to enable us to see clearly. The same is true all over the world. The difference for people that are less fortunate is that many have no access to a pair of glasses.

So there are people walking around legally blind, that require no heroic intervention to give them sight, other than a simple pair of glasses. It seems like a pretty wonderful opportunity to change people’s lives!

We started a charity called The Eyeglass Project. I know it seems ironic, a LASIK practice working to get people in glasses. 3D LASIK is amazing. I personally am a big fan of it. It provides an end to the inconvenience of glasses. But then what’s left? A pile of glasses that have lost their purpose.

Hunter Vision is partnering with TIME Ministries to bring those used eyeglasses (and any others we can get) to those who need them. We will be collecting eyeglasses beginning December 10th and will have drop boxes at two locations, Hunter Vision (located in the RDV Sportsplex), and Northland, A Church Distributed.

In 2012, a team from Hunter Vision will take used eyeglasses donations to the Dominican Republic to bring clear vision to those who don’t have access to it. But we can’t do it without your help. The donation of your used eyeglasses, something so seemingly simple, could give sight to the blind.

What do you think of being a part of this? How about telling your friends too? It doesn’t require money, just a pair of glasses that you don’t use anymore. At each of our drop locations, we will have tags for your glasses that give you the option of sharing your information with us. The purpose of getting your info is to let you see the difference that your glasses made. Our hope is to be able to send you a picture of a very happy person in glasses that were once your own. What fun!