Optician Joanne Harris Joins Eye Care Mission in Uganda

Wilmington Eye’s Director of Optical Services Travels to Uganda to Provide Free Vision Care

On a typical day at Wilmington Eye, you’ll find our Director of Optical Services, Joanne Harris, leading the operations of our optical shops. But recently, Joanne’s expertise went far beyond our local community. During the last two weeks of March, she traveled across the globe to provide essential eye care services to underserved communities in Kasese, Uganda.

Joanne traveled with the Sight is a Right organization, a nonprofit dedicated to offering free healthcare to those in need, with a focus on eye care. The mission also partnered with For World Wide Smiles, providing free dental care alongside eye care services. The mission highlights the critical need for health and vision care in underserved areas and reinforces the idea that health is a fundamental human right.

“We believe that healthcare is a fundamental human right that should be available to everyone regardless of their economic circumstances. Everyone deserves vision!”  – Sight is a Right 501(c)(3)

Free Eye Care Services in Kasese, Uganda

During her time in Uganda, Joanne, along with dozens of dedicated volunteers, set up a free eye clinic in the small village of Kasese, Uganda. Their efforts were focused on providing vital eye care services, including:

• Free vision exams
• Health screenings
• Education on eye protection from overexposure to sunlight
• Preventing cataract progression
• Dispensing prescription eyeglasses, readers, and sunglasses

This outreach had an incredible impact, serving nearly two thousand individuals and helping to improve their quality of life through better vision and improved health.

“The mission was a huge success. We were able to provide much needed eye care services to almost 1900 people. This was such an amazing experience on so many levels!” – Joanne Harris, LDO, ABOC, NCLEC

About Joanne Harris: Over 35 Years of Optical Expertise

Joanne is a board-certified optician and holds licenses in both North Carolina and South Carolina. With over 35 years of experience in the eye care field, Joanne has worked in private practices, corporate settings, and laboratory fabrication environments. Her passion for eye care and her commitment to enhancing the lives of patients is evident in everything she does.

At Wilmington Eye, Joanne has been an invaluable member of our team for over 6 years. We are thrilled to welcome her back from her mission trip and are inspired by her dedication to making a difference in the lives of patients both locally and across the globe.

Learn More About Sight is a Right

To learn more about Joanne’s mission trip and the important work done by Sight is a Right, visit sightisaright.org for more information.