Eye Health Institute

03/27/2026

Applications are open!! If you are interested in traveling with us to Jamaica, send us a message or follow the link in our bio!!

03/23/2026

Stay tuned for a fun announcement later this week!

11/12/2025

Thank you to everyone who has reached out about the situation in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa. There was damage to all of our clinics. We need to check on all the equipment and see what is still functioning. One of our board members will be there next week. We are raising money to repair the facilities, but first we are sending generators to power the health centers. Phones and electricity are still down. We are trying to send other supplies as well. The death toll is at 45 with 15 people still missing. Many of our patients are now homeless. If you are able to send anything that the Ministry of Health is requesting please do so. The cargo bay at the airport is expected to reopen this weekend. We are also sending emergency tents, blankets, food, and flashlights.

11/12/2025

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Eye Health Institute,

It is with deep sorrow that I write about the devastating news of the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa. The most significant hurricane in Jamaica’s history struck the island on Tuesday, October 28 as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 mph and rainfall exceeding 30 inches in some regions. The Prime Minister has declared a national disaster as the island faces widespread displacement, infrastructure damage, and agricultural loss.

Current reports from our local partners on the ground confirm that:

-Power outages, downed communication lines, and shortages of food and clean water are widespread.

-Many residents of Hanover Parish remain without homes. The death toll is at 45 with 15 people unaccounted for.

-Two of our three Eye Health Institute clinics have sustained significant damage, resulting in the loss of much of our medical equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals.

-Hospitals in Montego Bay, Lucea, Savannah la Mar, Black River, Falmouth, and Mandeville have sustained considerable damage.

Before the end of this year, a small advance team will return to Jamaica to assist with local relief efforts, begin restoring clinic operations, and provide basic medical support where possible. We are coordinating closely with our Jamaican colleagues and the Lucea Hospital to develop a structured recovery and rebuilding plan, and we will keep you informed as conditions evolve. We are sending generators, tents, blankets, flashlights, and food in support of the communities which have been devastated.

To help meet urgent needs, we have established a dedicated donation link below. Contributions will first go toward immediate relief for affected communities, with remaining funds directed toward rebuilding our clinics and replacing essential supplies.

🔗 Donate here: https://square.link/u/u7X4Bi6e

Through every hardship, the strength and spirit of Jamaica continue to shine. United in compassion and service, we are committed to helping restore hope and health to those who have lost so much.

Thank you for your continued support.

Respectfully,

Dr. Richard Cross
Eye Health Institute

11/04/2025

Find the donation link in our bio 🇯🇲

02/14/2025

Calling all Optometrists and Optometry Interns: applications are now OPEN!! Eye Health Institute is now taking applications for our upcoming trip to Jamaica from November 22 - 29, 2025 and we would be happy to have you join us! 👓 😎
If you are interested, please send us a message to get the process started!

12/09/2024

Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 10th. Please consider making a donation to the Eye Health Institute. Your contribution will allow us to help people in Jamaica enjoy the gift of sight.

We work with volunteers to provide in-depth eye care to the underserved people of Jamaica....

12/07/2024

Thank you all again for making the 2024 EHI Jamaica Clinics such a success!

December 10 is Colorado Gives Day, where every donation will be matched up to $100. Please consider following the link below and donating!

https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/EyeHealthInstitute

11/24/2024

Well that's a wrap on clinic November 2024! With 516 patient exams, approximately 30 cataract surgeries, many many glasses dispensed, and data collected for a Glaucoma study, this week was a great success! Thank you to everyone who supported our team!

If you would like to contribute to EHI for future trips, please see below for some donation methods!
1) Benevity (at which some employers will equal the amount donated!): https://mygoodness.benevity.org/community/cause/840-311782363
2) Donating through our website as www.eyehealthinstitute.org

08/22/2024

Hello all!

The team is busy meeting, organizing, scheduling, and getting very excited for our next trip this coming November!! We will be at 2 clinics, 2 remote clinic locations, 2 school screenings, and conducting a Glaucoma study!!🤓 As a team, we are incredibly excited about everything we will get to do!

In order for EHI to be able to provide the highest quality of care and complete our goals to the fullest of our abilities, we rely heavily on donations. Currently we are in need of financial support in order to make the next trip a success. Please consider donating to EHI through any of the following ways:
1) Benevity (at which some employers will equal the amount donated!): https://mygoodness.benevity.org/community/cause/840-311782363
2) Donating through our website as www.eyehealthinstitute.org
3) Square: please see QR code in last photo

05/13/2024

Happy Monday everyone! The EHI team is already hard at work preparing for the trip this coming November! Thank you to everyone who has sent glasses along so far, each pair is very much appreciated and going to make a huge difference.

Along with physical donations, EHI is also in need of monetary donations to cover all costs of the trip (shipping, additional supplies, fixing equipment, etc). If you would like to support EHI financially, please follow this link to our Benevity donation page: https://mygoodness.benevity.org/community/cause/840-311782363

04/22/2024

Happy Monday everyone!

EHI is gearing up for another clinic trip this coming November and the team is need of reading glasses!! In particular we looking for glasses with a prescription between +1.00 - +3.00. If you have an extra pair or are willing to donate some, EHI and the patients we will be seeing will be greatly appreciative!

For reading glass donations in the USA, the following address can be used:
Attn: Eye Health Institute, 5305 Spine Road, Suite B, Boulder, CO 80301

And for donations within Canada, the following address can be used:
Attn: Dr. Michaela Hellinga, 221 Scott St., Fort Frances, ON, P9A 1G8