Vineela joined our family in August 2018, after working for two years as a clinical optometrist at the L V Prasad Eye Institute. “My time there motivated me to join an organization that provides quality care for the people who need it most,” she says.

Vineela’s day at the office begins at 9:30 a.m. She starts by going through her weekly plans, preparing her to-do list and tackling her most urgent tasks. These often include following up on the progress of our partner hospitals and coordinating training for vision technicians, optometrists and ophthalmic assistants. Lunch is at 1 p.m., after which she’s busy with project and training reports. She wraps up at 5:30 p.m. with a final report to her manager and discussion about tomorrow’s important tasks.

But that’s not all. With her expertise in clinical optometry, Vineela trains optometrists, technicians and final-year optometry students, visiting one or two of our partner hospitals every month.

During these trips, she also monitors our Hospital-Based Community Eye Health Projects. She visits vision centres, talks with the staff and patients, checks patient records and addresses any areas for improvement. “I get to see the changes we bring into people’s lives. That’s what I like about my job the most!” says Vineela.

“My interests are in clinics and teaching,” she continues. “Operation Eyesight’s unique approach in reaching the underprivileged motivated me to apply for this position. Now I am very happy to be a part of this family and to serve the neediest!”

Your big-hearted gifts are making it possible to transform communities through people like Vineela. By donating today, you can help provide vulnerable communities in Africa and Asia with the quality eye care they need – For All The World To See!

The post A day in the life of a program officer appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Targeting eye health alone isn’t enough to eliminate avoidable blindness; if other health care needs aren’t met, there will still be people suffering from vision problems or other conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency results in preventable childhood blindness, and increases the risk of death from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea.

With your help, we’re enabling poor communities to lead healthier and more productive lives. Not only do we educate target communities about eye health, but we also address their essential health care needs. Our trained community health workers educate communities about eye health and general health (such as the importance of vitamin A) and create awareness of the eye care services available in or around the community. They also collaborate with health care staff to deliver services such as immunizations.

We’re always proud to report the number of sight-restoring cataract surgeries performed or prescription eyeglasses dispensed, but the pinnacle of our work is the healthy communities that are empowered to lead happy and productive lives. For example, we’ve declared 1,020 villages as avoidable blindness-free. In these villages, mortality rates have dropped significantly and school enrollment rates have increased.

Thanks to YOU, entire communities have been transformed!

There are still thousands of communities that need your help! Please donate today to prevent blindness and restore sight to some of the most vulnerable people in Africa and Asia.

The post With healthy eyes, entire communities are thriving because of YOU! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

82-year-old Simiyu and his wife, Philomena, live in the agricultural town of Kitale, Kenya. They have five children, four daughters and a son, who live away from home.

Both Simiyu and Philomena struggled with deteriorating vision for years. Eventually, Simiyu went completely blind.

“I used to have a persistent headache,” says Simiyu. “ I couldn’t see at all and had to depend on my wife to guide me around. I’d be taken outside to bask in the sun and then taken back inside the house. I felt like a sheet being hanged outside to dry.”

The already struggling couple was suddenly facing a future bleaker than they had ever imagined. Philomena had very little vision left in her left eye, and she knew it was only a matter of time before she joined her husband in the dark world of blindness.

“I’m the one who was afflicted first. I suffered from visual impairment for three years before my husband became blind,” says Philomena. “I used to cry a lot. What would become of us when I lost my sight? I was the only breadwinner and I am my husband’s caretaker.”

Simiyu and Philomena were devastated. Their hope turned into despair. But they had no choice but to continue eking a living with the fast-dimming vision of their left eyes.

Finally, Simiyu went completely blind. He was forced to leave his casual work at a local dairy farm, cutting the couple off from half of their income.

In spite of this, every Sunday Philomena would take her husband’s hand and, with her precious remaining vision, guide them both to church.

Little did this couple know that their lives were about to get a whole light brighter.

One Sunday, medics from Kitale Eye Unit conducted a free eye screening at the local church. Simuyu and Philomena were present, and both were identified with cataract in their left eyes. In no time, they were booked for sight-restoring surgery at Kitale Eye Unit.

When the fateful day came, the Eye Unit car was sent to pick them up. Philomena took her husband’s hand as she had done so many times before. They were both optimistic but apprehensive of the outcome.

Thankfully, Bernard, a community health volunteer, did his best to reassure them that all would be well. They couldn’t have found someone better to calm their fears. After all, Bernard had been blind himself before having his sight restored with cataract surgery.

And so the couple underwent cataract surgery on the same day. After their surgery, a community health worker followed up with the couple to ensure they received quality post-op care.

Simiyu and Philomena’s eyes have healed, and now they can see clearly!

“We were so afraid,” says Philomena. “But you [Operation Eyesight] came to our rescue. I jumped with joy when both of us could see again!”

“Now I can see everywhere,” announces Simiyu with a smile. “I can now walk around on my own without any assistance.”

On her part, Philomena is already thinking about their next phase of life. She would like to save up to start a small business.

Simiyu agrees. “I would like to join my wife in starting a small business so we can become completely self-reliant,” he says.

All of this was made possible by compassionate people like you, who gave from their hearts so couples like Philomena and Simiyu could live with hope and dignity. Thank you so much!

There are thousands of other couples like Philomena and Simiyu who need your help. With Valentine’s Day approaching, why not show your love by giving the gift of sight to others? Your gift will change lives and give people hope for a happier brighter future. You can even send your sweetheart a Valentine’s Day eCard and give the gift of sight at the same time!

The post Thanks to you, this couple escaped despair appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

We’re thrilled to have been named one of the Top 10 Impact Charities of 2018 by Charity Intelligence Canada. Just as for-profit organizations have an obligation to their shareholders, we have an obligation to our donors. We invest donor funds carefully and efficiently to create the long-term changes that will help eliminate avoidable blindness.

This recognition is a significant milestone on our shared path to help more people who are needlessly suffering, and to make a generational impact that will ensure the communities we work in will have access to the eye care they need today, tomorrow and in the future.

Charity Intelligence’s impact rating is determined by analyzing the measurable return for every dollar donated. They hold charities accountable for the support they receive from Canadian donors, and they observe that people will generally give more to charities when they are confident their donation will make an impact. Operation Eyesight made the list by eliminating avoidable blindness at the community level, through our Hospital-Based Community Eye Health Program model.

When assessing our impact, we look at how well we are meeting our strategic goals. We look at the number of patients treated, how much local capacity is being built and how well our hospital partners are progressing towards operational sustainability.

We create eye health-seeking behaviour in the communities we work in through outreach and education programs, and we empower communities to take responsibility for their eye health needs. This plays a vital role in helping to ensure our projects are sustainable and that people will continue to seek help even after our formal partnership with the hospital has ended.

The ripple effect is incredible! Kids can see to read and go to school, giving them the opportunity to get an education and later find a job and provide for themselves. Parents can return to work and provide for their families. Grandparents can watch their grandkids grow up, and their grandkids don’t need to stay home to care for them. This way, children can get an education and thrive in the future. Entire communities are transformed with the gift of sight!

We can’t thank our donors enough for supporting our sight-saving program model. Thanks to people like you, we’ve declared over 1,000 villages avoidable blindness-free in India and Nepal. And we’re not done yet! We’ve had great success in the communities we work in, but there are still millions of people who need our help. With your help, we can reach them – For All The World To See!

 Click here to donate and make an IMPACT.

The post We’re one of the Top 10 Impact Charities of 2018! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.