Peta Mathias asks Kiwis to dig deep and give the gift of sight this Christmas

Kiwis are being encouraged to give the gift of sight this Christmas and buy a $25 Miracle of Sight card from Specsavers stores nationwide. Each card sold will help restore sight to a vision impaired person in a nearby Pacific nation.

Peta is a Specsavers charity ambassador and will be attending a Fred Hollows Foundation outreach next year. She says the charity is one close to her heart as she knows how important it is to keep your eyes in check.

"I am delighted to be working with Specsavers and The Fred Hollows Foundation to raise money for cataract and other sight-restoring surgeries, particularly given the alarming news that more than 80,000 people in the Pacific are needlessly blind," she said. "Every Miracle of Sight card that is purchased up to Christmas day will be helping someone in the Pacific to see again which is just amazing."

"For just $25 you can give people their sight back. I find that extraordinary, and I encourage every Kiwi to get out there and buy a card!

Karalina Marama, from the Island of Vanua Levu in Fiji has experienced first-hand the great work that The Foundation does in the Pacific after receiving a simple 20 minute operation that restored sight to her left eye.

The 54 year-old had been blind in her left eye since 2009 with a cataract also developing on her right eye. She had given up hope and was left house-bound with little mobility, unable to recognise the people she loved even her own grandchildren. 

Specsavers optometrist Jenny Kung, from Specsavers St Lukes, says "We take it for granted in a country like New Zealand that we can access excellent medical and health services but we don't realise how lucky we are.

"Karalina's cataract on her right eye can't be treated until it has fully matured. Here in New Zealand we have the equipment needed to remove a cataract as soon as it begins to form; equipment that her local eye clinic simply cannot afford."

"This is why it is so important to raise money for The Fred Hollows Foundation and support what they do so that Karalina and others can get the treatment they need immediately rather than having to wait."

Following her operation Karalina was absolutely ecstatic and overwhelmed because she is now able to look after her grandchildren, grow much needed fruit and vegetables for her family, and take care of her livestock.

Debbie Thomson, Marketing Director at The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, says she hopes that families will come into Specsavers stores and purchase a card for their loved ones. 
"Just $25 can help change someone's life forever. I couldn't think of a more wonderful Christmas gift," says Debbie.

Miracle of Sight Christmas cards can be purchased from Specsavers stores nationwide and also ordered online at miracleofsight.org.nz.