Our comprehensive programs seek to improve access to quality eye care while also addressing some of the root causes of avoidable blindness, such as gender inequities, inadequate eye care services, long distances to eye health centres and lack of access to clean water, among others.

Our programs are designed to provide quality eye health care to all, regardless of age, gender or ability to pay. Through our community eye health model, we train local community health workers to conduct door-to-door surveys, screen patients and refer them for treatment, and educate the community on eye health and other health topics including maternal and newborn health, immunization and nutrition. As a result, we’re able to provide care to people who would otherwise go unreached, and these communities become healthier and stronger.

We work with our network of over 70 partner hospitals to strengthen their capacity to meet the needs of the surrounding communities. Capacity-strengthening may include providing the hospital with new or upgraded equipment, providing training for ophthalmic personnel, and/or establishing a vision centre or eye unit at the community level which is linked to the hospital, allowing our partners to bring their services closer to the community and facilitate referrals for specialized care.

By working with our local hospital and government partners to integrate eye care into the existing primary health care system, we help ensure the sustainability and quality of care offered through our programs. In our model of Hospital-Based Community Eye Health, revenue generated by clients who can afford services offsets the cost of eye care provided to those who can’t and allows hospitals to achieve self-sufficiency. All our patients receive the same quality treatment and care. We believe that avoidable blindness will be eliminated when everyone has access to quality eye care. To learn about programs in each country where we work, click here. To support our sight-saving work, please donate .