The wait by customers of Courts St Vincent Limited for the opening of its optical store is now over.

Last Friday, the curtains were lifted on the new department – the latest addition to the line of products and services offered by the furniture,{{more}} electronics and appliance store. Courts Optical, located at the Kingstown store, promises to offer customers value they can see.

Patrons got a first-hand look at the facility following a brief opening ceremony, which heard remarks from senior manager Michele Samuel and Matthew Bender, the company’s regional optical chain manager.

Dr Rosmond Adams, epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, who delivered the feature address, commended Courts Optical for providing services for citizens of SVG as a way of improving eye health in SVG.

“Low vision and blindness have dire effects on individuals, families and communities. These effects range from a decrease in the quality of life and increased mortality to large-scale economic consequences on these individuals.”

He stated that culturally, there is a stigma associated with blindness and the social disadvantages are also enormous.

“So, with the opening of this centre, Vincentians will now have access to free comprehensive eye examinations, referral of any detectable eye conditions that cannot be handled by the centre and affordable eye equipment.”

The store, which offers state-of-the-art equipment and technology, will be headed up by Cuba-trained optometrist Dr Indria Hadley, who has been practising for the last seven years.

Hadley will be ably assisted by optical service representatives Michelle John and Indra Charles and dispenser/supervisor Samantha Garraway, who are ready and willing to serve with the usual Courts excellence.

The Courts Optical store, the first in the OECS, is one of 22 stores located in the Caribbean and one of 100 in the region. Courts has been operating optical stores for the past 15 years.

The highlight of the launch was a very well received fashion show, during which models displayed the many brands of eyewear available at the store.

The store offers the latest brand in prescription eyewear and sunglasses, with customers being given up to 24 months to pay, if they are prescribed eyewear following their free examination.

Customers who purchased eyewear at the launch were also given a free gift and 10 per cent discount on their purchase.