September 4th, 2025, 5:30pm MDT
Smiles spread as blurred shapes focused in classrooms, chapels and community centres throughout Micronesian federal state. This was made possible by donated glasses and the hands of dedicated volunteers.
Bright Eyes, Bright Future, a nonprofit founded in 2017 by Dr. Ray Hardy and his wife Krissy Hardy, traveled to Chuuk this summer with 17 volunteers to offer a free eye care clinic. The organization is not affiliated with the Latter-day Saint Church of Jesus Christ, but has strong ties with the church community. All the optometrists who volunteered were graduates of Brigham Young University and Latter-day Saint missionaries who assisted in translation and logistics reported the church’s Guam/Micronesian newsroom.
The owner explained that the clinic they first had was in Peru in 2018. From that point on, they felt “famous” by this type of humanitarian work. They shared that seeing the world clearly through their first glasses makes it incredible to see someone smiling.
Island clinics
Working with local leaders, the group held five clinics over five days in June on the islands of Romanham, Weno, TOL and UDOT. Locations included the school, Weno Hospital, the Chuk Women’s Council Community Centre, and even the Romanum Branch Chapel.
By the end of the trip, 480 people had been tested for eyes, 290 patients were fitted with prescription glasses and 400 pairs of sunglasses were distributed.
Chuukese-speaking Lawson Duce and Ava Duce played an important role in patient planning and interpretation.
The impact that everything felt
For many, the impact was immediate and life-changing. “The bright eyes that came to Chuuk were the best things that happened in our community,” said Achilin Engich, a local mother whose 8-year-old son was saved. “Getting his glasses was his happiest day. He finally got to see it.”
Volunteers also said their lives have changed. “What’s even more surprising than the miracle of helping people see was the opportunity to connect with people,” added Kate Hardy of Redmond, Oregon, who added, “being able to connect with them through smiles, laughs and simple chuuk phrases reminded us that the most important thing in our lives is the connections we have with the people around us.”
Canadian volunteer Marlan Harris recalls the generosity of the islanders. “People said there was nothing to thank us, but they gave us more.
Vision for the future
Bright Eyes, the Bright Future plan returns to Chuuk and hopes that their work will encourage others to serve locally and abroad. “Volunteers of all ages have joined the clinic. When teens volunteer, it can affect their lives and the people they serve,” Chrissy Hardy said.
For Hardy and their team, effort is more than a drug. “We want to support our children in our community,” she said. “What’s important to us is important to us.”
Harris shared that visiting people in Chuuk changed his life.
