Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO)

In 2004, ABDO announced Vision Aid Overseas as its official Charity of Choice and committed to support their work in a number of ways.

Every year, ABDO will award bursaries to successful applicants who are members of ABDO with a £500 donation towards their fundraising total for their overseas assignment.

Recent bursary winners: Judith Searle who went to Ethiopia and Lisa Cole, Nita Odedra and Deepkirian Cheema who went to Zambia.

How to apply

If you’re a Dispensing Optician and have been selected to join our overseas assignment, you can apply for an ABDO bursary by contacting Sir Anthony Garrett by emailing tgarrett@abdo.org.uk at the Association of British Dispensing Opticians explaining why you would like to apply for the bursary.

Join as a member

Starting from only £48 per year, you could become part of the solution to transforming access to eye care and glasses in Africa. Subscribe today to become a member.

Latest

Andy's Great Ethiopian Run - Part Two!

I'm back!! Just as I gained the peak of physical fitness for the Great Ethiopian 2016 the government of Ethiopia imposed a State of Emergency and my participation was postponed. But I'm back in training! I'll be 60 by the time I take part; please, someone...try to talk me out of it!!!!!
Sierra Leone Flooding

Vision Aid Overseas can confirm that our Sierra Leone staff are all safe and well.
Burkina Faso Attack

Vision Aid Overseas can confirm that our staff and volunteers are safe and well.
Sierra Leone Assignment September 2017

I am returning to Sierra Leone with my good friend optical technician Phil Gascoigne. We will be installing new glazing and refraction equipment, bought with funds raised through VAO's 2016 Christmas Appeal, at the Vision Centre at Connaught Hospital in Freetown. We'll also be carrying out some refresher training for the resident optometrists.

Irvine Aitchison Memorial Fund
Rajeshwar Lal Bursary
Join as a member

Starting from only £48 per year, you could become part of the solution to transforming access to eye care and glasses in Africa. Subscribe today to become a member.

Find your local recycling Opticians
How it works

Vision Aid Overseas no longer sends used glasses overseas. Find out how we recycle your glasses!
Why did you stop sending the glasses overseas?
Where can I recycle my glasses?
Our vision

No one lives in poverty because of poor eyesight; no one lives with poor eyesight because of poverty.
About volunteering

If you are an Optometrist, Dispensing Optician or Optical Technician your skills can change lives! Find out more...
What happens to the glasses when you receive them?
How much do you make from each pair of glasses?
The right to sight!

I feel honoured and privileged and extremely exciting to say I will be going to Zambia in October with Vision Aid overseas. I would like your help in raising some money for this amazing organisation. 640 million people worldwide cant see properly simply because they need glasses!
Will you pick the glasses up/ how do we get them to you?