Cure Blindness Project

05/29/2026

On 26–27 March 2026, Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital, West Bengal, India, organized a two-day training program for 30 Ophthalmic Assistants (OAs), with technical support from Cure Blindness Project. Notably, 87% of the participants were women, reflecting the growing role of women in frontline eye health services.

The training focused on strengthening clinical knowledge and practical competencies in key areas of eye care, including cornea, cataract, and refractive errors. Sessions led by specialized ophthalmologists provided hands-on learning and exposure to best practices in eye health management.

By strengthening their diagnostic and patient management skills, the program helps OAs deliver more accurate, efficient, and patient-centered care at the community level.

Ophthalmic Assistants play a critical role in expanding access to quality eye care, particularly in underserved communities. Strengthening their capacity directly contributes to improving service delivery and reducing the burden of avoidable blindness.

At Cure Blindness Project, we remain committed to investing in the development of frontline eye health professionals and advancing the vision of accessible, high-quality eye care for all.

05/27/2026

Our Senior Program Officer Denis supports our work in South Sudan. He took us inside a recent surgical outreach in this 1-minute video.
After years of conflict, there are only a handful of eye care professionals serving South Sudan’s nearly 11 million people. That means most people here have little to no access to something as basic as eye care.
Cure Blindness Project is changing that.
This June, Cataract Awareness Month shines a light on the world’s leading cause of blindness—and one of the most treatable conditions on earth.
17 million people still live in darkness due to treatable cataracts. With your support, we can deliver sight-restoring surgery to people who have been waiting—often for years—for care that could change their lives.
Right now, through June 15, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar—up to $200,000—doubling the impact of your generosity.
Join Denis and other courageous, compassionate eye care workers to help us cure blindness. Give today at https://cureblindness.org/june.

05/25/2026

Some stories break your heart…
Then gently stitch it back together with hope.

Meet Habonimana Anésie, 59 years old. For three long years, she lived in darkness.

She arrived trembling — visibly affected by symptoms of Parkinson Disease. Her hands, her head, her entire body shook. So much so that she feared her condition might disqualify her from receiving a miracle. But even in the midst of her trembling, her lips never stopped moving in prayer:

“Oh my God, have mercy on me…
Grant me favor before these kind-hearted doctors…
Help them welcome me and heal me…
You know I love You, Lord, and how deeply I suffer…
Have mercy on me!”

She whispered these words even during her eye examination — fragile but full of faith. And when her trembling made the procedure difficult, she gently pleaded:

“Please… hold my head still… I believe I will be healed…”

The outreach team were all deeply moved.

Habonimana wasn’t just a patient —
She was a living prayer.
A cry of the soul.
A fragile body carrying an unshakable faith.

And today, she sees. She walks on her own. She lifts her voice in praise.

05/24/2026

Thank you to long-time partner Operation Ethiopia for your recent outreach work at the Boru Meda Hospital in Ethiopia. Over the course of 6 days, doctors performed 151 DCRs (a surgical procedure performed to treat blocked tear ducts), 10 ptosis surgeries (a drooping upper eyelid) and 21 other oculoplastic cases for a total of 182 cases. Great job changing lives, Operation Ethiopia!

📷 Photographer: Abel Gashaw

05/22/2026

“I don’t even know where to begin,” Jonas, a recent patient at a Cure Blindness Project outreach tells us, his eyes filled with emotion.
“I can see daylight… I can see the people around me… It’s unbelievable.”

Jonas grew up in darkness. Throughout his childhood and teenage years, he knew only sounds, voices, and careful steps guided by touch.
His disability exposed him to many humiliations:

“When my brothers wanted to punish me, they would remove my plate while I was eating. My hands would touch the ground, and they would laugh at me.
Being blind is not easy… You are forced to endure and adapt, because the same people who mistreat you are also the ones you depend on to survive.”

As he became an adult, his family arranged a marriage for him.
For Jonas, it was a great relief:

“She accepted to live with a blind man like me. She helped me so much. But I still felt worthless… I wanted to contribute, to be a man for her.”

He sometimes asked to accompany his wife to the fields, but his efforts often resulted in injuries:

“That’s why I have so many scars. I hurt myself trying to do something useful, but it was in vain.”

Until recently, Jonas did not even know the faces of his own parents.
He recognized his brothers and sisters only by their voices.

And then one day… everything changed.

During the cataract surgical campaign in partnership with , Jonas finally received the surgery he desperately needed at Karusi Hospital “Natwe Turashoboye.”
Thanks to this intervention — and the compassion, skill, and dedication of the team — Jonas opened his eyes, and the world opened to him.

05/19/2026

Big news for ophthalmology training in Ethiopia: six leading universities now have the tools to establish or strengthen their Wet Labs, thanks to generous support from Johnson & Johnson - Vision.

Under the leadership of Cure Blindness Project’s Equipment Manager, Abreham Addis, installations were completed and biomedical engineers received hands-on training to help keep the labs functional and sustainable for the long term.

For Mekelle and Bahir Dar Universities, this marks their first-ever Wet Lab, a meaningful step forward for hands-on ophthalmic education.

What’s one ingredient you think is most important for maintaining training infrastructure over time?

05/18/2026

05/18/2026

Incredible to see this initiative beginning in Sikkim! 👏👏👏

05/18/2026

Clear vision = powerful impact.

Ending vision impairment could generate $447B for the global economy—and transform millions of lives.

Last year’s Value of Vision report from IAPB, Seva and The Fred Hollows Foundation makes one thing clear: investing in eye health is one of the smartest, most practical decisions governments can make.

Preventable and treatable vision loss keeps hundreds of millions of people out of school, out of work, and out of full participation in their communities—yet the solutions are proven, affordable, and scalable. From early vision screening and reading glasses to a stronger eye health workforce and higher‑quality cataract surgery, these interventions don’t just restore sight—they unlock human potential.

The impact is enormous. Eliminating vision impairment could add $447 billion to the global economy, strengthening livelihoods, productivity, and resilience worldwide. As global leaders emphasized at the UN General Assembly, eye health isn’t a niche issue—it’s a cornerstone of economic growth, social inclusion, and sustainable development. When we invest in vision, we invest in people, communities, and a more prosperous future for all.

That’s the . 👁️✨

Read more at https://cureblindness.org/news/value-of-vision-study

05/15/2026

Cure Blindness Project was honored to host a hands-on vitreoretinal surgery training at Menelik Hospital in Ethiopia.

We sincerely appreciate Dr. Dean Eliott for leading this training and for his continued commitment to strengthening vitreoretinal surgical capacity here in sub-Saharan Africa.

Senior ophthalmologists Dr. Yometeku and Dr. Demoze Delelegn attended, reinforcing local leadership and long-term sustainability in advanced retinal care.

Cure Blindness Project remains committed to building local expertise and improving patient outcomes in Ethiopia. Sponsoring specialized training is a key part of strengthening local eye care systems. 💪 🏥 🌍