Our focus on clearer vision

We are committed to eliminating avoidable blindness and visual impairment, so that everyone can fully participate in society without limitations caused by poor vision.

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Sharing our approach, knowledge, and expertise

In low- and middle-income countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Vietnam, and Tanzania, people with visual impairments or blindness are often completely dependent on others. This makes it difficult for them to work or even participate in their communities. Yet many of these cases could have been prevented with proper eye care.

That is why we focus our efforts on these regions, working closely with local teams. To date, we have delivered around 40,000 trainings, trained more than 400 ophthalmologists, and educated over 2,000 ophthalmic professionals. By sharing knowledge and expertise locally, we create lasting impact in the areas where it is needed most.

How we improve eye care

At Eye Care Foundation, we strengthen local eye care in a sustainable way. We invest in training at all levels from ophthalmologists and medical staff to teachers who conduct eye screenings in schools, ensuring that problems are detected early.

We also improve infrastructure through mobile eye camps, build new clinics, and support existing ones with modern ophthalmic equipment, while ensuring patients receive the proper follow-up care.

We make eye care accessible by funding treatments such as cataract surgeries, eye examinations, and the provision of glasses. Our approach is most successful when eye clinics can operate independently, with local staff and policies tailored to the local context.

Oogarts samen met oogpatient en haar kleinzoon in Cambodja

This is what Eye Care Foundation does

Eye Care Foundation works to prevent and treat avoidable blindness and visual impairment through four pillars:

Service delivery

Conducting eye screenings and examinations for adults and children
Financing and performing cataract surgeries
Providing and fitting glasses

Training and education

Training local eye care professionals and healthcare workers
Providing basic eye care training for teachers and volunteers
Strengthening eye care education opportunities in collaboration with universities and training institutions

Infrastructure

Building and supporting eye clinics
Establishing field offices for medical and organisational support
Donating modern ophthalmic equipment

Awareness and education

Providing education on eye health within communities and schools
Advocating for the importance of eye care among governments and policymakers
Conducting population-based research on eye conditions

Mobile eye camps

In the Netherlands, there are approximately 38 ophthalmologists per 1 million people. In some of the countries where we work, there are as few as 4 per 1 million. As a result, there is often no eye doctor nearby, and due to poor vision and limited financial means, people are unable to travel long distances.

That is why we bring care directly to the people through mobile eye camps in remote areas. An eye camp is a temporary, mobile clinic set up in remote locations (for example in Nepal or Tanzania) where no permanent eye care services are available.

A mobile eye camp consists of specialized ophthalmologists and supporting medical staff who conduct eye screenings and examinations for both adults and children. Where possible, glasses are fitted or provided. Patients who require further treatment are referred to a regional eye clinic or specialized hospital.

In this way, we make eye care accessible to people who would otherwise be left behind.

Make mobile eye camps possible