Anna's Vision - Featured on Essilor Canada Website

In Saskatchewan, children under the age of 18 are covered for one eye exam per year through regular Sask Health benefits, however, if your child requires glasses, this cost will have to be paid out of your pocket if you do not have supplementary health coverage.  According to the Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists school children aged 6 to 19 years should undergo an eye examination annually and preschool children should undergo at least one eye examination between the ages of 2 and 5 years.  Children’s eyesight can change rapidly and therefore the cost of buying and replacing glasses can quickly become out of reach for many families.

Anna’s Vision, a charity that provides full eye exams and eyewear (when needed) to homeless and underprivileged children, teens and young adults, was developed in 2010 in Calgary, Alberta by Optometrist Dr. Diana Monea.  In 2011 the program was extended to assist Mother Teresa Middle School in Regina, SK and to provide the same service to unwed mothers in school with the underlying principle that to learn you must see. 

Dr. Monea grew up in rural Saskatchewan and states that 80% of a child’s learning is through vision but unfortunately only 16% of Canadian children have their eyes examined annually.  “Many families, especially the working poor, cannot afford the cost involved in purchasing eyewear,” Dr. Monea says, “I believe every child deserves the chance to see!” 

‘Giving back and caring, making a difference when you can’ is Dr. Monea’s philosophy in her charity work and through her clinics with locations in Regina and Calgary.  She does not agree with bureaucratic red tape therefore children do not need a referral to take part in Anna’s Vision program.  “Children cannot wait through a backlog of paperwork in order to be able to see,” Dr. Monea explains, “I don’t want to have a child refused eye care when seeing is learning.”

Eye exams and frames are donated to underprivileged children by Dr. Monea’s clinics, Eye Health Centres, and lenses are provided by Essilor Canada.  “Essilor has teamed up with us to help children so every child, teen and young adult can receive excellent quality lenses!” says Dr. Monea.

With so many homeless and working poor in our province it is essential that a charity such as Anna’s Vision exists to help children and young adults get the eyewear they need to be able to function properly in school.  Anna’s Vision accepts monetary donations to help cover some of the costs associated with the frames so if you would like to donate or if you are a family in need, please contact Dr. Monea directly at dr.dmonea@gmail.com or see her advertisement in our business directory for more contact information.



Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry

Essilor Canada