About the International Eye Foundation
The IEF Mission: To Help People See
IEF is proud to have played a part in the reduction of the leading public health causes of blindness and has, in the last decade, worked harder to combat childhood blindness and the new threats highlighted by the World Health Organization in its December 16, 2004-released data on visual impairment. With your support we can continue to bring hope to the people of the world's developing nations. [ How You Can Help ]
161 Million People Affected
According to a World Health Organization Report from December 2004, more than 161 million people were visually impaired in 2002, including 124 million people with low vision and 37 million blind. 1.4 million of these people were younger than 15 years old. These figures do not include people having uncorrected refractive errors such as short or long sight or astigmatism.
| WHO Data - December 2004 | ||
|---|---|---|
| CATEGORY | 2004 | EARLY 1990s |
| Blind | 37 Million | 45 Million |
| Low Vision | 124 Million | 135 Million |
| Total | 161 Million | 180 Million |
IEF is Evolving to Meet New Challenges
The most effective way of addressing recent threats to eye health is with highly-trained ophthalmologists in tertiary centers with sophisticated equipment.
IEF's innovative SightReach® Management Program improves the capacity of tertiary eye hospitals. SightReach Surgical®, IEF's social enterprise, makes new basic and sophisticated ophthalmic equipment, instruments, and supplies available at reduced prices for hospitals in the developing world.
The International Eye Foundation is Dedicated to Helping People See. IEF's core blindness prevention and sight restoration activities in the developing world include:
- Fighting cataract, trachoma, "river blindness," and childhood blindness
- Improving the quality of eye care services
- Providing affordable ophthalmic supplies, equipment, and medicines
- Building the management and financial capacity of eye hospitals that serve everyone, especially the poor.
GOALS + AIMS:
IEF enters the new millennium with fresh strategic directions that focus on making eye clinics financially self-sufficient. As we continue to develop eye-health services, train ophthalmologists and paramedicals, and fight vitamin A deficiency, trachoma and "river blindness," we are now strengthening the management, quality of service, and income-generating activities so that eye clinics are less dependent on outside donors and government funds.
MEASURES:
IEF is Working 3 Priorities
IEF is using three specific measures to achieve its mission to help the world to see. Our programs fall within three areas of priority:
- SightReach® Prevention helps to treat and/or prevent the leading causes of blindness— Cataract, Trachoma (Blinding Infection), onchocerciasis, and Childhood Blindness in developing nations.
- SightReach Surgical® makes new and modern ophthalmic equipment, instruments, and supplies available to eye care providers in the developing world while reducing cost barriers.
- SightReach® Management enhances financial self-sufficiency of eye care providers while providing quality care for both paying and subsidized patients.
VALUES:
IEF's ethos may be summarized in the words of IEF founder Dr. John Harry King, Jr. who said, "The promotion of peace can come through the prevention of blindness." The following are some of the values we hold important:
- Everyone deserves the highest quality eye care possible.
- Developing comprehensive and sustainable service delivery systems is paramount.
- Innovative eye care services should expand the availability of eye care, especially to the poor and underserved.
- Development of long-term relationships with partners should be done with the goal of helping them succeed and grow.
The IEF's blindness prevention and sight saving programs are funded by governmental, foundation, and corporate contributors, as well as individuals like you who generously donate online. Our website showcases our successes and our breadth of services to the developing world. Feel free to contact us with specific questions or requests. [ Staff ]