Dr. Samson Darrah is the recipient of 2024 Optical Foundation Early Career Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Optometry.
A graduate of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Samson distinguished himself through his remarkable achievements and dedication to advancing eye health, with; his research; his community service & leadership as the founder of iCare Network Ghana impacting underserved communities, volunteer mobilization and mentorship; and his contributions in establishing the HM KNUST Low Vision Center, as well providing training, curriculum development, and research supervision.
For the award’s one-year mentorship program, Samson has chosen for a focus on 'Industry' and for this Erich Bauman is his guiding mentor. 

Congratulations to Dr. Philipa Asantewaa Larbi for winning the 2023 Optical Foundation Early Career Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Optometry. A graduate of the Department of Optometry and Visual Science at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Philipa has distinguished herself as a leader in eye health education, actively engaging in community screenings and weekly radio programs to raise awareness. As part of the award, she has chosen the Public Health Mentorship Program, where she will be guided by Luigi Bilotto, further strengthening her impact in public health while pursuing an MSc in Clinical Optometry on a Commonwealth Scholarship at Cardiff University.

The Optical Foundation’s Global Summit at BCLA 2021 brought together past and present grant recipients to celebrate their achievements and inspire Ghana’s current optometry students. With the absence of an in-person conference, the summit provided a platform to recognize award winners, connect with students through inspirational stories, and offer practical career guidance. Speakers included Dr. Carolina Kunnen, who conducted the awards presentation, Byki Huntjes & Luke Stevens-Burt, who introduced the BCLA, and Simone Stad, who discussed BCLA membership and fellowship, alongside past grant recipients sharing their experiences and Eric Papas offering valuable tips on successful applications.

Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, The Optical Foundation embraced new opportunities to connect and expand accessibility. In 2021, with support from BCLA, the Frans Oosterhof Conference Award was fully funded, allowing seven outstanding Ghanaian optometry students to attend the BCLA Virtual Clinical Conference and Exhibition—a significant increase from the usual two recipients. Selected from 20 applicants, the awardees were equally placed across Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and University of Cape Coast, with a balanced gender representation, judged by Drs. Eric Papas, Fayiz Mahgoub, and Thomas Stokkermans based on academic record, leadership, and community involvement.

When the 2020 Netherlands Contact Lens Congress (NCC) was canceled due to the pandemic, the winners of The Optical Foundation’s Frans Oosterhof Travel Grant were unable to attend. To ensure they were still recognized, Volk generously donated two Volk 90D Lenses as an alternative prize. The recipients, Miss Asantewa Aboagye MacCarthy from University of Cape Coast and Mr. Isaiah Osei Duah Junior from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, received their lenses from TOF board member Daudi Mohammed-Ameen and a local Volk representative, with deep gratitude to Volk for their support.

With international travel suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Optical Foundation turned the challenge into an opportunity, enabling all level 500 Optometry students from Ghana’s two universities to attend the American Academy of Optometry 2020 Virtual Conference. This was made possible through generous support from CooperVision US, which sponsored memberships, and the American Academy of Optometry, which provided membership discounts. Dr. Thomas Stokkermans played a key role in coordinating student sign-ups, while the Advisory Committee worked tirelessly to facilitate this invaluable learning experience.

The Optical Foundation’s Global Summit at AAO 2020 was created to inspire and connect Ghana’s level 500 Optometry students before they attended the American Academy of Optometry 2020 Virtual Conference. The event recognized Miss Asantewa Aboagye MacCarthy and Mr. Isaiah Osei Duah Junior, winners of the 2020 Frans Oosterhof Travel Grant, who received a Volk 90D lens as an alternative prize. It also featured past grant winners sharing their journeys, provided tips for first-time virtual attendees, and acknowledged key sponsors, including Volk, CooperVision US, and the American Academy of Optometry, with special thanks to Dr. Maria Markoulli for managing the event’s logistics.

The 2020 Frans Oosterhof Travel Grant was awarded to Miss Asantewa Aboagye MacCarthy from University of Cape Coast and Mr. Isaiah Osei Duah Junior from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, selected from 15 applicants based on academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement. This grant was made possible through the generosity of Carolina Kunnen, Maria Markoulli, Vincent Molkenboer, Erich Bauman, and Karolien Elving, who donated their NCC speaker fees to support the initiative. Asantewa aspires to become a professor and ocular health researcher, while Isaiah’s personal journey with vision loss has driven his passion for clinical optometry and research into eye diseases, shaping his goal of becoming a research professor.

The 2019 Frans Oosterhof Travel Grant was awarded to Miss Nutifafa Esther Senanu from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Mr. Ebenezer Zaabaar from University of Cape Coast, selected from 20 applicants based on academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement. This was the first time The Optical Foundation awarded two grants simultaneously, made possible by CooperVision UK, which covered travel and accommodation, and the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA), which waived conference fees. Nutifafa aspires to become a pediatric optometrist, professor, and advocate for women’s education, while Ebenezer’s goal is to become a vision science professor, training future optometrists to serve medically underserved communities in Ghana.

After Professor Eric Papas’ successful 2015 lecturing tour, The Optical Foundation expanded its efforts in 2019 by sending Professor Eric Papas and Esma Aygun to Ghana. They delivered lectures at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and presented at the Ghanaian Optometric Association in Accra. With orthoptics not formally taught in Ghana, Esma Aygun’s presentation on Binocular Vision and hands-on workshops were especially well received, enriching students' understanding of a crucial yet underrepresented area in optometry.

The Outreach Screening Project in June 2018 saw volunteers Iris de Jong (optometrist) and Ellen Blom (orthoptist) travel to Ghana with suitcases full of essential eye care supplies. Over two weeks, they conducted 1,757 comprehensive eye examinations across eight locations, providing much-needed care to some of the poorest children and adults. Their work included screenings at the School for the Blind in Akropong, community exams at St. Andrews Anglican Church, and school screenings in Aputuogya, Tanoso, and Aprinkra, where they identified cases needing further treatment, prescribed glasses, and educated communities on eye health, reinforcing The Optical Foundation’s mission to make eye care accessible for all.

In July 2017, The Optical Foundation joined Our Children’s Vision, Major League Baseball Players Trust, and KaBOOM! in Opa-locka, Florida, for a community playground-building event. Over 200 volunteers worked together to create a new playground at the Room2Bloom community center, designed based on children's drawings. Knowing the importance of outdoor play for physical health and vision, The Optical Foundation was honored to be part of this initiative and provide free eye testing, ensuring that children in the community received essential vision care while gaining a safe and inspiring place to play.

When political unrest in Gambia forced The Optical Foundation to cancel its planned project, efforts were redirected to an eye examination initiative in Ghana. Partnering with Sister Aba and her team at the Jachie Eye Clinic, four volunteers conducted screenings across multiple locations, examining 624 people—including 500 children—within the first three days. Their work focused on detecting glaucoma, cataracts, and refractive disorders, and they later visited the University of Kumasi’s School of Optometry, where they introduced students to orthoptics, a subject not formally taught in Ghana, reinforcing their mission to make eye care accessible to underserved communities.

The 2016 Optical Foundation Frans Oosterhof Travel Grant was awarded to Acheampong Oppong, a student at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, who attended the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Conference in Montpellier, France. Set to graduate in summer 2017, Acheampong aspires to enter private optometric practice to provide affordable, high-quality care to patients in Ghana. In his reflection, he described the TFOS Conference as a highly positive and educational experience, offering valuable insights for his future career.

For World Sight Day 2016, Carolina Kunnen traveled to Indiana to provide free vision tests for elementary school students and youth baseball players in Gary, Indiana. The event, a collaboration between Our Children’s Vision, the Baseball Players Trust, and The Optical Foundation, was made possible with support from Illinois Eye Institute Princeton Vision Clinic, Indiana University College of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry, Moses Eyecare, and Benavente Eyecare. With the help of former MLB players LaTroy Hawkins and Kenny Lofton, nearly 200 children were screened, and 54 received glasses to improve their vision.

In December 2015, The Optical Foundation partnered with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) for a two-day screening project in Essiam, organized by Francis Wiredu, a UCC student. Under the supervision of a clinical lecturer, 11 optometry students conducted eye tests for 301 children aged 4–17, identifying 25 children in need of corrective glasses. Additionally, 31 children with allergic conjunctivitis, glaucoma suspects, or lens opacities received treatment or referrals, ensuring that conditions that might have gone unnoticed were properly addressed.

One of the highlights of 2015 was The Optical Foundation’s Lecturing Tour, featuring Professor Eric Papas, who presented at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the Ghanaian Optometric Association in Accra. His lectures on meibomian gland dysfunction and contact lens discomfort captivated students and optometrists, some of whom traveled six hours to attend. The tour left a lasting impact, with attendees inspired to improve eye research in Ghana, and Professor Papas himself deeply impressed by the enthusiasm, professionalism, and dedication of Ghana’s optometry community.

In October 2014, Carolina Kunnen visited Ghana to present her PhD research on Meibomian gland morphology and ocular comfort, which was well received by university leaders and students. Her visit strengthened ties with the University of Cape Coast, leading to a new collaboration with Prof. Natalia Mensah and former student Heinz Otchere to enhance optometry education. Carolina also met with Dr. Samuel Asiedi, chair of the Ghanaian Optometry Association, to explore future partnerships, while supporting local initiatives like Francis’ community screening project and Hakeem’s World Eye Foundation, ensuring The Optical Foundation continues to foster growth in Ghana’s eye care sector.

In July 2011, Esma, a Dutch orthoptist and lecturer at Utrecht University, traveled to Ghana on behalf of The Optical Foundation to continue the Glasshopper Project. Working alongside Dr. Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo and Ghanaian optometry students, she conducted eye exams in elementary schools and orphanages, providing practical training and improving access to vision care.

Over three weeks, the team screened 470 children, prescribing glasses to 25 children and four teachers. Esma also delivered a guest lecture at UCC on orthoptics, which was met with great enthusiasm. Despite the university break, students voluntarily participated, receiving certificates of recognition, with two expected to become future project coordinators.

In November 2008, Carolina Kunnen returned to Ghana for three weeks to complete the eye screenings at Rev. Alec Jones School in Nkanfoa, which she had started during her 2007 visit. Working with a team of nine optometry students, she provided comprehensive eye exams, ensuring each student took full responsibility for diagnosing and treating their assigned patients.

Although her visit coincided with exam season, limiting screening days, the team successfully screened 52 children and provided hands-on training to the optometry students. This visit reinforced The Optical Foundation’s commitment to education and improving eye care accessibility in Ghana.

In February 2007, Carolina Kunnen traveled to Ghana to launch The Optical Foundation’s first project, partnering with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and Dr. Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo. While awaiting equipment, she began teaching orthoptics, ensuring students could continue their studies despite a faculty shortage.

In June 2007, she launched the Glasshopper Project, leading screenings at primary schools and for street children at Cape Coast Castle. Over the project, her team examined nearly 1,000 children and 150 teachers, referring 60 children for treatment and diagnosing seven cases of amblyopia. She also trained 35 optometry students, forming an all-female screening team to promote gender equality. Their findings were later published in Visus, highlighting the urgent need for eye screenings in Ghana.