Group with the ‘eye train’ in Manila. Front, L to R: Arveen Kang, May Zhao, Catherine Jaison, Brenna Yang. Back: Dr. Jonah Gilham (OD’20), Dr. Zoe Stein (OD’20), Soomin Lee, Victoria Chao, Sophia Bachetti, Saba Haroon, Reagan Myers, Khrystina Yabut (CVC Assistant), Dr. Olivia Viergutz (OD ’21), Dr. Clayton Switzer (OD’20)
Saba Haroon, a third-year optometry student at the University of Waterloo, embarked on a life-changing journey this past summer as part of a Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) volunteer trip to the Philippines. Organized by Canadian Vision Care (CVC), Haroon, eight other Waterloo optometry students and four Canadian optometrists – all Waterloo alumni – spent five days providing eye care to rural communities that lack access to basic health services.
For Haroon, this trip was not just about gaining clinical experience, but also about making a meaningful impact on people's lives. What she didn’t anticipate was how deeply the experience would impact her own growth, both as a future optometrist and as an individual.
During the trip, Haroon and the team saw up to 100 patients each day, offering vision screenings, prescribing glasses and referring individuals for surgeries when needed. They worked in rural elementary schools as well as in a stationary “eye train” that has been repurposed to serve as a makeshift clinic for residents of Manila.
Saba Haroon stands in one of the classrooms that were used by the team for clinic outreach.
“It was intense at times,” Haroon recalled. “We were seeing patients from morning until night, but the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of those experiencing vision impairment made it all worthwhile.”
One of the most memorable moments for Haroon was treating a six-year-old boy who had been living with an untreated congenital cataract – a condition rarely seen in Canada due to early medical intervention.
“This child had been suffering from a condition that I would have had readily available treatment for in Canada. We were able to make a significant difference in his life,” she said. “It made me realize just how important our role as optometrists can be on a global scale.”
“Understanding their language was difficult at times, but the human language of care is universal.”
The trip wasn’t without its challenges – language barriers, cultural differences and the sheer volume of patients made the work difficult at times. Fortunately, Haroon and her team were supported by Filipino optometrists and translators who helped bridge the communication gap.
“We learned so much from the national doctors,” Haroon said. “Their approach to patient care was sometimes different from ours but we worked together to find solutions that benefited everyone. Understanding their language was difficult at times, but the human language of care is universal.”
Despite the challenges, Haroon found moments of joy and bonding with her fellow volunteers.
“It was an all-girls team and we became close,” she said. “We spent our downtime exploring the area, including visiting the famous Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Those moments helped us recharge and created lifelong friendships.”
Reflecting on the experience, Haroon feels more committed than ever to pursuing a career in global health.
The team traveling to a clinic site by van.