A woman thanked the public yesterday after hundreds of pairs of sunglasses were donated to help people plagued by eye conditions in poverty-stricken Haiti.

Lucy Willitts said was a “tremendous” response from the public to her drive for shades after she had first-hand experience of the plight of many Haitians.

She visited the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission in October 2018 and returned to Bermuda with a determination to do more.

Ms Willitts, of Pembroke, said yesterday: “We really wanted to get the message out there to thank Bermuda for the tremendous response they had and the empathy they felt for the people in Haiti, who are losing their sight because they live so close to the equator.

“We filled 53 boxes with sunglasses.”

The 75-year-old went to the island with friend Maureen Moore, who was a full-time missionary for 12 years.

The pair assisted a team of surgeons while in the country and Ms Willitts learnt how dirt, dust and malnutrition, as well as the bright sunshine, could cause serious eye damage. She said yesterday that 20 boxes of sunglasses were sent several months ago with the Feed My Lambs Ministry, which provides aid, care and education to Haitians.

The remaining boxes were shipped later with help from DHL. They will be delivered to the NWHCM in Saint-Louis-Du-Nord, which offers a range of services, including medical and dental clinics, orphanages and a seniors’ home.

The sunglasses will be handed out to people in need.

Ultraviolet rays as well as other radiation from the sun has been linked to eye damage, including cataracts and macular degeneration.

The risks are greater for people living closer to the equator, such as those in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere and where few can afford quality sunglasses.

Malnutrition, including vitamin A deficiency, and a poor standard of medical care has also been said to increase the risk of major eye problems.

Ms Willitts said that there were “so many people to thank”.

She added: “The response was incredible, it was children, it was the elderly ... everybody. It’s amazing.”