Organization: International Eye Foundation (IEF)

All Photos INTERNATIONAL EYE FOUNDATION's mission is to restore sight and prevent blindness in developing countries. Programs address cataract and refractive error, the leading cause of blindness worldwide and low vision respectively, and fight onchocerciasis (river blindness) and childhood blindness. IEF is passionate about transforming eye clinics and hospitals in developing countries into institutions proviing quality eye care while serving all levels of society, especially the poor.

Focus Areas:	Health
Countries Served:	All 14 countries: Cameroon Egypt Ethiopia Ghana Guatemala Honduras India Malawi Mexico Nicaragua Peru Paraguay El Salvador Tanzania, United Republic of   Summary by region: Africa Latin America & Caribbean Asia

Description of Services:
In Africa, IEF partners with National Onchocerciasis Control Programs to fight "river blindness", a disease caused by worms affecting the poorest people at the "end of the road". IEF's innovative SightReach Management program partners with 24 eye clinics and hospitals in 15 developing countries providing technical assistance and funding to achieve improved standards and management, quality care, increased productivity, and organizational and financial sustainability. IEF's SightReach Surgical progam offers quality ophthalmic products and information from a trusted source at affordable prices to eye care providers and NGOs working in over 85 countries in the developing world.
History:
1961: Founded by corneal transplant pioneer Dr. John Harry King, Jr. 1960's-1990's: Volunteers help build national eye care services and train eye care specialists. Scholarships for training ophthalmologists in Latin America. Ophthalmic nurse and paramendical training programs established in Asia, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, and the Middle East. 1970's: Exchange programs between US Navy ophthalmologists and eye doctors in India, Pakistan, Egypt and Ethiopia. 1980's: Vitamin A/child survival and onchocerciasis control programs in Africa and Latin America. 1985: Given "offical relations" status with WHO. 1990's: Innovative SightReach Management & SightReach Surgical programs improve sustainability in developing countries.
Accomplishments & Progress:
IEF has benefited people at risk of blindness in over 60 countries worldwide. In 2011, over 935,000 people received Mectizan to control river blindness in Cameroon. Our SightReach Management sustainability network includes 28 eye clinics and hospitals in 19 countries which now have improved capacity to address increasing numbers of people with cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. In 2011, IEF partners performed over 26,000 eye surgeries. SightReach Surgical assists eye care providers and NGOs in over 85 countries with quality technology and information services.