Why We Care About Blindness in Africa

About Eye Surgeons International

Avoidable blindness is one of the most solvable global health crises—and one of the most devastating when left untreated.

There are approximately 40 million blind people worldwide, the vast majority of whom live in low-income countries. A significant concentration of avoidable blindness exists in Sub-Saharan Africa, where access to trained eye surgeons is extremely limited.

The primary reason for this disparity is not a lack of technology, but a critical shortage of trained ophthalmologists. In high-income countries, there are typically between 75 and 150 eye surgeons per million people. In contrast, Sub-Saharan Africa averages about one effective ophthalmologist per million people.

A Solvable Crisis

The most common cause of avoidable blindness in Africa is cataract disease, an opacification of the eye’s natural lens. Cataracts can be corrected through a straightforward surgical procedure that is highly effective and can cost as little as $100 per patient.

No new technology is required. What is urgently needed are more trained doctors and teachers who can deliver this care safely, efficiently, and at scale.

The Eye Surgeons International Approach

Eye Surgeons International (ESI) works to close this gap by establishing well-equipped, high-efficiency surgical and teaching centers designed to deliver a high volume of sight-restoring surgeries while simultaneously training local African doctors.

This train-the-trainer model prepares physicians not only as surgeons, but also as future teachers of eye surgery. By building local capacity, ESI creates a sustainable, African-led solution to blindness—one that continues long after visiting surgical teams depart.

Doctors trained through this model disperse throughout the region, expanding access to care and multiplying impact across communities and countries.

Why This Work Matters

Left untreated, blindness from cataracts perpetuates poverty, prevents education, fractures families, and holds back entire communities from developing. With treatment, the story is reversed: sight is restored, independence returns, and local economies grow.

Multiple studies have shown that cataract surgery provides one of the highest economic returns on investment of any medical intervention, generating approximately $47 in economic productivity for every $1 invested. Even more important than the economic impact is the profound human impact: the restoration of sight, dignity, and hope.

In the developed world, access to highly trained ophthalmologists is something we often take for granted. At Eye Surgeons International, we believe this privilege comes with the responsibility to share our knowledge and resources.

With sustained support, avoidable blindness across Sub-Saharan Africa can be eliminated.

Learn More or Get Involved

To explore Eye Surgeons International’s programs, surgical work, and ongoing initiatives, visit www.eyesi.org.

To support this mission through event sponsorship, visit our Sponsorship Opportunities page.

To make a direct contribution or support the auction, visit our Donate & Auction Items page.