Eyeglass Clinics Reach Out to Kyrgyzstan Residents
Sasha, an examiner in Kyrgyzstan, tests a walk-in client’s vision and fits her with free eyeglasses.
Every Friday, an eyeglass clinic is held at the city church in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – the country’s capitol city. Alexander Bykov, the examiner, tests walk-in client’s vision and fits them with free eyeglasses.
“After the client is fitted with free eyeglasses, their smiles indicate how happy they are to see clearly or read for the first time in a long time,” writes Tim Nickel, central Asia facilitator for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS).
The LCMS has worked in Kyrgyzstan since 1998. More specifically, LCMS World Relief and Human Care has financially supported eyeglass clinics in Kyrgyzstan since 2003. In the first year and a half alone, LCMS staff members estimate they saw 7,000 residents in need of eye care.
A high percentage of Kyrgyzstan residents are literate and many like to read. After a certain age, many people cannot read due to poor vision. Eyeglasses are fairly cheap, but in the post-Soviet economy, many suffer from poverty and are unable to afford vision care or eyeglasses.
With financial assistance from LCMS World Relief and Human Care, the Lutheran church in Kyrgyzstan has provided free eyeglasses to thousands of people since 2003.
Bykov is able to purchase eyeglasses by the thousands, at a $1.00 or $2.00 a piece from a wholesale distributor and store them at church facilities. And because they are given away for free, town people line up to receive their own pair.
The eyeglass team also travels to villages throughout the country, often times staying several days at a time in each place. They frequently work in villages where churches are established. They work in cooperation with church leaders or village administrators to distribute “tickets” to patients. The team can examine 15-20 people each day.
In October 2007, Nickel visited the team as they worked in the village church in Rotfront, about one hour and 20 minutes from the city. A group of residents took breaks from working the harvest fields to attend the clinic.
“They were so happy with the atmosphere that they wanted to stay awhile in the house church. This friendly and welcoming atmosphere is established by the friendliness and warmth of Bykov and Alymkan,” writes Nickel. “For all those who are served, it is certainly worth every effort and deserves support.”
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