Erna Takazawa is Samoa’s first and only local optometrist

In the heart of the Pacific, Samoa glimmers not only with its pristine beaches and fertile landscapes but also with the spirit of community and compassion embodied by its people.

 
For over a decade, Samoa Eye Care – Samoa’s first privately owned clinic, founded by Erna Takazawa, Samoa’s first and only locally based optometrist – has been instrumental in transforming the country’s eyecare, ensuring that vision is safeguarded for everyone living there.

Takazawa was the principal optometrist and national eye health coordinator at Samoa’s National Hospital for seven years before opening Samoa Eye Care in 2019. Her journey is not just about clinical optometry – it is deeply intertwined with her mission to ensure the eye health of the Samoan population.

Recognising that poor vision can significantly hinder a child’s ability to learn and engage with the world, Takazawa has put an enormous emphasis on paediatric eyecare. Her impact is reflected in the smiles of the children who can now see the board clearly in their classrooms, in the gratitude of parents who witness their child’s world expand and in the community at large.

One of Takazawa's happy patients in Samoa

A key ally in expanding the reach and impact of Samoa Eye Care’s efforts has been Volunteer Ophthalmic Services Overseas (VOSO) New Zealand. The collaboration has significantly enhanced the resources available to Takazawa’s team and allowed them to distribute free frames. This is especially impactful for the underprivileged, enabling them to experience the world in clarity and colour, perhaps for the first time. 

This work is a reminder of the difference a group of people, driven by compassion and commitment, can make in the lives of many, fostering a brighter future for Samoa.

For their generous donations of frames, VOSO would like to thank Cam Wiltshire from Independent Optical Group for the Euro Optics frames, David Bearpark from Little Peach Eyewear and South Island optometrist Roberta McIlraith.

Richard Johnson is a senior optometrist with the Greenlane Emergency Eye Clinic in Auckland, specialising in glaucoma, medical retina and paediatrics. He’s also a long-standing VOSO trustee, former CCLS NZ councillor and NZ Eye Bank Trustee.