Specsavers Raises An Eye-opening Sum for Charity

As we try to focus on the good, this is a heartwarming tale we think you’ll enjoy.

This year, the Scottish Specsavers store partners have raised a phenomenal £73,000 for a piece of equipment which will greatly improve the lives of premature babies in Scotland.

Specsavers optician Michael O’Kane’s daughter Sophie was born prematurely, at 24 weeks, weighing just 1lb 15oz. She received second-to-none care in the Simpson’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, in Edinburgh – a centre of excellence which helps premature babies from across Scotland. O’Kane has carried out a number of fundraising initiatives for the Simpsons Special Care Babies charity and has even had a helping hand in his efforts from Sophie, now aged 6.

Now, Specsavers partners from all over Scotland (working in optics, audiology and domiciliary) have joined forces to raise £73,000 to purchase a piece of equipment call the PanoCam for the neonatal unit.

Due to the rapid changes in organ development that happen in the last three months of gestation, consultants must check premature babies’ eyes regularly during their time in the incubator. This can mean each baby needing weekly examinations and requires a massive commitment from the ophthalmology department in terms of human resources.

What’s more, this vital examination can put a lot of stress on babies – indeed, it can take up to a day for a baby’s heart rate and breathing to return to normal afterwards.

The PanoCam Pro is a more sustainable, quicker and safer method of examining these babies, meaning they are less likely to suffer heart failure or longer-term problems such as visual impairment or other potentially avoidable health problems.

The ultra-wide angled (130deg) camera has built in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and autofluorescence and as it is portable it could potentially be used for assessing older children in the hospital’s cancer wards.

The ophthalmologist, radiologist, or neonatal consultant can place the lens onto the cornea and take a very quick scan.  As well as delivering a less stressful examination for the baby, it can allow for more detailed and planned treatment and monitoring.

This equipment can enable lifelong vision in children who already have significant obstacles to overcome. It helps support families and parents at one of the worst times in their lives and can give the child a chance to learn normally in a mainstream school.

O’Kane, a partner at the Morningside and Cameron Toll Specsavers stores, said: ‘The support from colleagues across Scotland, with help from our customers, has been overwhelming and we are extremely proud to have raised this impressive sum.

‘It will make a huge difference to the neonatal unit, which helps premature and sick babies across the country. When my daughter was born, I learned first-hand how incredibly supportive everyone at the unit is and will be forever indebted to them.’

When Specsavers Scotland launched the start of the fundraiser in autumn 2021, it was part of a dual announcement which saw Bliss Scotland designated as the opticians’ Charity of the Year, to generate additional funds to support Scotland’s premature babies and their families.