When you’re a teenager and your world is blurry from the classroom to the soccer field, your future dreams may be overshadowed by the immediate need of wanting to see clearly again if your family can’t afford the cost of vision correction.
But sometimes, partnerships and a helping hand can bridge that gap.
Kristine Karimian, a third-year student at Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry, shares how she was able to help a 16-year-old boy regain clear vision and his confidence through CooperVision’s Give Brightly™ program.
A Routine Eye Exam Offers a Second Chance for Clear Vision
The high school student recently visited Western University Eye Care Institute for a routine eye exam. That’s where his future unexpectedly changed course through the Give Brightly™ program, which provides a one-year supply of contact lenses to patients in need.
“This young athlete had been without his glasses for three months due to the financial burden of replacing his lost pair,” Kristine explains. “During our intake, we discovered that he had been playing high school soccer either with his outdated prescription glasses or without any visual correction at all.”
Under the direction of Professor John Tassinari, OD, BS, FAAO, FCOVD, Chief of Pediatric Optometric Services at Western, Kristine fit the young man in Biofinity® toric contact lenses.
“The transformation was remarkable,” Kristine continues. “He experienced a significant improvement in his peripheral vision, a reduction in visual distortion, and an overall boost in his performance on the field. Witnessing his joy and relief as he regained clarity and confidence in his game was truly rewarding. It’s the Give Brightly™ program that we have to thank for allowing him to have access to such an impactful and beneficial opportunity in his young life.”
Give Brightly™: A Partnership Between CooperVision, Schools, Patients and Communities
Give Brightly™ provides complimentary contact lenses to assist patients who may otherwise not have access to contact lenses as a vision correction option. Established in 2007 as Adopt-A-Patient®, Give Brightly™ also promotes a positive contact lens fitting experience for optometry students and residents.
Give BrightlyTM includes CooperVision’s diverse portfolio of soft and specialty contact lenses. Through the program, each student may select one patient while in clinic to fit with complimentary CooperVision soft, scleral, hybrid, or ortho-k contact lenses, in addition to providing appropriate follow-up care.
For Kristine, Give BrightlyTM not only impacted the life of her patient, but hers as well.
“It has been a privilege to support this young patient in experiencing the joy of enhanced vision, alongside Dr. Tassinari, at the Western University Eye Care Institute,” Kristine adds.
Discover more about the Give Brightly™ Program and CooperVision’s other student programs, in addition to educational resources at CooperVision’s Online Success Center.
Kristine Karimian is a third-year student at Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry.
