Homeless people are to get prescription glasses after an optician volunteered to help them see better.

Jamie Burgess, owner of Argus Optical, said that eight men and one woman were examined and will get new glasses.

Dr Burgess said several of the people required “fairly significant” prescriptions.

She added: “So that’s why we’re hoping it really will have a benefit for them.”

Dr Burgess said the scheme was about more than just better vision.

She explained: “We wanted to have a comprehensive eye- health exam.

“Putting glasses on a person with unhealthy eyes is like putting a Band-Aid on.”

Dr Burgess said the idea was sparked by a conversation with one of her employees about work done by Christ Church in Warwick to help the homeless.

She said: “Often you will get people that are either uninsured or underinsured and don’t have access to glasses. Sometimes it prevents them from being able to get a job or do other things.”

She added the event was not a one-off.

Dr Burgess said: “We’re definitely planning on doing it again. We would like to extend it to some school-age children as well.”

She said she planned to contact schools to get names of pupils who might need examinations or glasses.

Dr Burgess said the scheme was a way for Argus, which has branches in Parliament Street and Reid Street, to give back to the community.

She said: “If you have the opportunity to give back, I think you should.”