Mom’s Grain Sorting Sparks Future in Eye Care

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The dependence on reading glasses by Dr Shadrack Lusi’s mother to help her sort grain in rural Kenya is what spurred him to decide on a career in eye care and public health. 

Lusi’s PhD research focused on addressing uncorrected refractive error (URE), a leading cause of poor vision affecting an estimated 2.2 billion people worldwide. His study developed a framework for integrating refractive error services into Kenya’s eye health ecosystem through social enterprises. Recognising that commercial enterprises dominate the optical industry in many developing nations, his research proposed an alternative approach balancing profit with social impact. 

Using systematic reviews, meta-analysis and stakeholder consultations via the Delphi technique, his study assessed existing social enterprises in Kenya and their impact on refractive error service delivery. Lusi’s findings revealed that social enterprises played a critical role in enhancing accessibility, affordability and the availability of vision care services, especially in underserved regions. However, factors such as unhealthy competition, inadequate human resources and a lack of policy regulation hinder their effectiveness. 

His study estimated that lost productivity due to URE costs the nation between US$671 million and US$1.04 billion annually, while the potential productivity benefit of correcting visual impairment is around US$41 million a year. Lusi’s framework emphasized partnerships, skills development, advocacy and the integration of telemedicine to scale up human resources and improve eye health services. 

Lusi is a leader in practical eye health interventions and the country co-ordinator for Let Our Children See, a social enterprise he founded to improve child eye health. Through this initiative, he advocates for early eye care interventions, raises awareness about vision health, and ensures children have access to essential eye care services that support their education and well-being. 

Looking ahead, Lusi is committed to translating research into real-world impact. His future plans include ensuring that evidence-based policies and programmes drive sustainable changes in vision care, particularly in resource-constrained settings. He is passionate about scaling effective solutions that bridge the gap between research and implementation, ensuring that more people have access to quality eye care. 

Supervised by internationally renowned experts in the field, Professor Kovin Naidoo and Professor Rekha Hansraj, Lusi’s PhD journey has been one of resilience and innovation. His passion for knowledge extends beyond optometry - he enjoys reading the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, finding inspiration in their perspectives on society and development.

Words: MaryAnn Francis

Photograph: Supplied