About
Like Beatrice, we all have dreams. Though her young son Darrel was just 18 months old, she had hopes he would grow up healthy and independent. Sadly, she learned that Darrel had glaucoma, a disease that damages the optic nerve due to high eye pressure. “I was shocked to learn this condition would gradually make Darrel blind,” Beatrice shared. “I wanted so badly to have him treated, but it was very difficult because of our financial situation.”
Will you join us in our mission to prevent blindness and restore sight around the world?
An international development organization, Operation Eyesight has been preventing blindness and restoring sight since 1963. Our locally based solutions create accessible eye health services. By recruiting community health workers as champions who educate communities on eye health and wellbeing, we can eliminate avoidable blindness. Currently our eye health and community development programs operate in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Zambia. We plan to expand to other countries to meet the growing need.
Our vision is the elimination of avoidable blindness.
For people who live in developing countries, losing their sight can be devastating. Children may struggle in school, or be unable to participate. Adults cannot support themselves and seniors may experience isolation. For millions of people, vision loss can be treated, or prevented, with access to quality eye health care.
Learn more about our innovative and sustainable Hospital-Based Community Eye Health Model here.
Our Impact
In 2020 alone:
- Partner hospitals performed 147,031 eye surgeries
- 1,411,994 people were screened for eye conditions
- We provided 202,631 pairs of prescription eyeglasses to children and adults
- We empowered 414 ophthalmic personnel to provide eye health care
- We rehabilitated or drilled 250 boreholes which provide fresh water to villages
While these statistics demonstrate measurable success, it is stories like Beatrice’s that bring us joy. Her fear that Darrel would become blind was overwhelming. “My prayer was that my child could grow up and live an independent life.”
Fortunately, our Kenya team met Beatrice during the 2015 Standard Chartered Bank Nairobi Marathon, where we had a booth promoting eye health awareness.
Beatrice approached our staff and asked them to examine Darrel; he was given an urgent referral to one of our partner eye units. In January 2016, Darrel received transformational surgery at no cost to the family, thanks to the support of donors.
For three consecutive years, we have been named a Top 10 Impact Charity by Charity Intelligence Canada, recognizing the impact created by every dollar donated. We encourage you to read our latest annual report.
