Operation Eyesight Canada

We are an international development organization working to eliminate avoidable vision loss and bring quality eye health care to communities where it’s needed most.

Founded in Calgary, Canada in 1963, over the past six decades we have grown to become a global community that spans four continents and includes health workers and volunteers, physicians and ophthalmic personnel, donors, partners, staff and board members.

Whether it’s a simple pair of eyeglasses or a more complex eye surgery, we believe everyone has the right to affordable, quality eye health care services. Together, our mission is to prevent blindness and restore sight – For All The World To See.

While all of our programs are interconnected, we have five main areas of focus:

HOSPITAL STRENGTHENING

We work with local hospitals to deliver quality eye health care services that meet community needs. The hospitals receive referrals and provide advanced treatment including eye surgery. We invest in equipment and infrastructure – from procuring slit lamps, to renovating operation theatres and everything in between. We also provide training for hospital staff – from administrative clerks and health workers, to ophthalmic nurses and cataract surgeons.

Together with the hospital, we establish vision centres at the community level. We are strengthening entire health systems and making eye health a standard part of
the care provided.

COMMUNITY EYE HEALTH

We train local community health workers who conduct door-to-door eye health screenings, refer patients for treatment and provide general health education. They’re able to reach families in remote and underserved areas.

By establishing vision centres in communities, we ensure patients have local access to comprehensive eye exams, prescription eyeglasses and referrals to hospital if needed. Our goal is to declare all of our partner communities as avoidable blindness-free!

INTEGRATED EYE HEALTH

Eye health is linked with a range of other development areas. We’re working to strengthen areas of overlap between primary eye care and primary health care in our countries of operation. In doing so, we’re able to address the root causes of avoidable blindness.

For example, our community health workers link families with primary health centres for immunizations, pre- and post-natal care, and other critical services. We also bring fresh water and hygiene education to communities, to help prevent the spread of trachoma, a blinding eye disease.

DISEASE CONTROL

We work with our partners to address the major causes of vision loss: cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, trachoma, uncorrected refractive error and other conditions. From eye screenings and prevention education, to treatment and follow-up care, our partners provide comprehensive eye health services.

In collaboration with ministries of health and education, we provide eye screenings at schools and ensure children get the prescription eyeglasses or other treatment they need to succeed. In Kenya, we recently conducted a mass drug administration in Narok County, distributing antibiotics to more than 215,000 people, to prevent trachoma, a blinding eye disease.

RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY

We are focused on harnessing the power of data to support the effectiveness of our model and contribute to a growing body of peer-reviewed research in the global eye health sector. This makes us a key collaborator in informing national eye health policies and strengthening local health systems.

In Ghana, where little to no data previously existed regarding visual impairment, we led the country’s first ever blindness and visual impairment survey in partnership with the Ghana Health Service and others. The data has become a go-to source for information for the government and NGOs, and it informed Ghana’s eye health policy and health program planning.

We work with local partners to ensure eye health care is available, accessible and affordable. To learn more about our eye health initiatives, give us a call or check out our website!