International Eye Institute

12/26/2025

✨Whatever traditions you celebrate, we hope your holiday season has been filled with light and joy! ✨

As the year comes to a close, we’re on a mission to share that light with others. If you’re able, please consider a gift to help us restore sight and empower local eye care teams. Together, we can make the world a little brighter in the coming year.
Our long-term goal is to continue teaching and supporting fellows until the program is fully independent. You can help us make the next mission trips even more successful by supporting our efforts.
Here are ways you can donate:

1. Donate Button on our Website: eyegive.org
Note: This option uses PayPal and incurs a significant transaction fee.
2. ZELLE (Best for maximizing your donation!):
Send your donation to [email protected] (This method is fee-free!)
3. Send a CHECK (Best for maximizing your donation!):
Mail your check to: International Eye Institute c/o Justin StormoGipson, Treasurer 12722 N West Newman Lake Dr Newman Lake, WA 99025
Every dollar goes directly to supplies, medications, and training tools that change lives. Thank you for your support!

12/06/2025

Progress Report from Santiago Atitlan! 🇻🇬
2025 brought two incredible surgical missions, delivering 140 sight-restoring surgeries and achieving major milestones in our local training program!

The highlight? Seeing our fellow, Dr. Anali Vasquez, independently perform 16 cases during the November trip was a true sign of our program's growth and sustainability. Her gratitude says it all: "You are incredible people, with huge hearts, and it has been a blessing to learn from you.”

Thank you to every volunteer and donor who makes this life-changing work possible!

Three ways you can donate to help us provide life-changing surgeries:

1. Use the DONATE button on our website: eyegive.org
This is an easy way to donate, but note that it uses PayPal, which charges a significant fee.
If you want all of your donation to go to our work, please consider the following two ways to donate:

2. ZELLE your donation to [email protected]

3. Send a CHECK to:
International Eye Institute
c/o Justin StormoGipson, Treasurer
12722 N West Newman Lake Dr
Newman Lake, WA 99025

11/17/2025

Transforming Lives and Training Surgeons! Massive Success in Santiago Atitlan!

We're bursting with pride after our November 2025 surgical mission trip! Our dedicated team performed 80 sight-restoring surgeries, but the biggest highlight was the incredible progress of our local fellow, Dr. Anali Vasquez.

Dr. Anali performed 16 cases independently this week and is rapidly approaching readiness to run the program! Her passion and commitment are what our mission is all about.

✨ Anali's Heartfelt Message: "I truly thank God for having put you and each member of your team in my path. You are incredible people, with huge hearts, and it has been a blessing to learn from you.”

Key Numbers from November:

Total Surgeries: 80

Cataracts: 66

Transplants: 5

A huge shout-out to our incredible team, including Dr. Julio de Leon (See International Humanitarian of the Year!) and our indispensable coordinator, Beth Garcia!

This work changes lives, one surgery and one training opportunity at a time. Thank you for your continued support!

11/11/2025

Update from the wonderful folks at Hospitalito Atitlan -

11/11/2025

05/17/2025

Here are some great pics of the May Team working in Guatemala. Thanks everyone, and especially Dr. Pulin Shah for team leading and Beth for coordinating. Our gratitude to Hospitalito Atitlan for the ongoing support and gracious hosting of our teams. Photos courtesy of volunteer Soen Nhem.

05/09/2025

Looks like the May team is hard at work!

05/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/196zThrrEK/

En nuestro tercer día de jornada Oftalmológica. ✨👀🧑‍⚕️

Nuestros Oftalmólogos brindando indicaciones a nuestros pacientes post-operados. 👁👁🩺

En el Hospitalito seguimos trabajando en coordinación con para devolverles la luz a quienes más lo necesitan.

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11/17/2024

Small but mighty team of International Eye Institute (eyegive.org) volunteers that came together to provide 79 surgeries this week at Hospitalito Atitlán (Guatemalan). A few long days performing as many as 27 sight restoring surgeries left us tired but fulfilled. 80% of eyes we worked on were blind, 25% of our patients were bilaterally blind. We are grateful to our volunteers, local partners, and donors (gnof.org, northidahoeye.com, americares.org, Alcon.com, http://xn--imprims-dza.com/, henryschien.com and many others).

05/23/2024

Our recent team back from Guatemala worked hard. Very hard in fact for a week at Hospitalito Atitlan. They were able to perform a total of 76 cases (that's in 5 days!) These included 54 cataract extractions, 8 Pterygium (removal of abnormal tissue from the eye), and 10 Pediatric cases including strabismus or crossed eyes. This work, and the team volunteers, could not do this without your support! Thank a volunteer if you know them.

05/17/2024

We have some great stories to share with you about the May trip to Guatemala from our fabulous team, led by Dr. Pulin Shah. There will be more on the team in a subsequent post. In the meantime, the story of these fun little persons having surgery is sure to add a smile to your day too! Dr. Shah talked about some pediatric cases having surgery with pediatric surgeon, Dr. Rachel Fuerst. He writes "Thiago, a 1 year old with esotropia ( crossed eyes), who cried non stop before surgery, who came in for his preop visit super happy with his Mario sunglasses. His mother was in tears with gratitude and appreciation for our service." Dr. Rachel seems to be able to put a smile on many peoples faces!