Our impact

THE GLOBAL BURDEN OF VISION IMPAIRMENT

(source: IAPB Vision Atlas, 2017).

BILLION PEOPLE HAVE NEAR VISION IMPAIRMENT

MILLION PEOPLE ARE DISTANCE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

MILLION PEOPLE ARE BLIND

HOW DO WE TACKLE BLINDNESS AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT?

OPC develops programs in collaboration with partner countries and their ministries of health, which have ownership of all programs and are responsible for implementation. OPC fights blindness and empowers underserved communities.

COMPREHENSIVE EYE CARE PROGRAM

Through the comprehensive eye care (CEC) program, OPC combines comprehensive eye exams [series of quality tests and examination conducted with a patient with a vision problem] and comprehensive eye services [eye health promotion, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all relevant eye diseases and rehabilitation of those with irreversible blindness and low vision] within the existing health system. We do this by:

Training health personnel at the different levels of the health system
Improving the referral system
Improving existing infrastructures
Installing mechanisms that will guarantee quality and sustainability
Focusing on the prevention of eye diseases through education and awareness

As a result, people get eye exams, glasses, and surgeries including and not limited to cataract at an affordable cost. Health professionals get a better work environment and are more likely to remain in their positions and flourish.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY

At OPC, we chose to be a “glass house” to explain where every dollar goes. We owe it to our donors and partners to keep their trust and support.

Of every dollar we spend, 92 cents goes to preserving and restoring eyesight of the world’s most vulnerable people.

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Programs (90%)

Fundraising costs (8%)

Operating costs (2%)

NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES PROGRAM

OPC’s Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) program is multi-faceted according to the disease. For all NTDs, projects include supporting target countries to map disease burden, gain access to donated NTD drugs, train community drug distributors, distribute drugs, and monitor and evaluate program performance and impact.

To fight trachoma, OPC’s program also includes training ophthalmic nurses to standardized surgical procedures, and to plan, collaborate with local stakeholders to raise awareness in local communities about personal and general hygiene and to improve environmental conditions.

As a result of OPC’s actions, people receive the treatments they need to stop disease transmission and surgeries to preserve their vision from unrecovered loss of sight.

TREATMENTS PROVIDED FOR 5 NTDS OVER 10 YEARS

OPC’s impact continues long after its project supervision comes to an end after 2-3 years. The ophthalmic training and knowledge shared, health systems strengthened, and the surgical centers equipped continue to serve and benefit thousands of more people each year. We are proud that beyond our direct impact, the results of our projects continue to grow sustainably under Ministries of Health ownership.

KEY IMPACT FIGURES FOR 2019

handwashing devices installed in schools

national action plans for ocular health prepared

national ocular health programs supported

fellowships in ophthalmology awarded

uncorrected refractive errors corrected

cataract surgeries operated

cases of trachoma complications operated

ophthalmic consultations done

children treated against schistosomiasis and helminthiasis

people treated against onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis

people treated against trachoma

of people benefited from treatments with OPC's support

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SURGICAL UNITS

NETWORK

OPC intends to expand its CEC program to Benin and Chad, which will bring the total number of sustainable health centers to 85, with 22 of them offering quality and affordable eye surgery.

Help us preserve the sight of millions.

HEAR IT FROM THE PEOPLE WE SERVE

My name is Habibé. Before being operated, I was suffering from tearing every day and all day long. My eyes were tickling and, because of this disease, I was ashamed to stay with my friends. I did not understand what was happening. I tried a traditional treatment but in vain. Now I am happy as I feel cured. I thank the team that came to operate me in our village.

My name is Idriss Gebal Ali. I am from the Ouaddaï region, eastern Chad. I got the first symptoms of trachoma on my left eye, four years ago. More precisely, I had watery, itching eyes and kept rubbing them. I was informed at the local market by a community relay that an outreach of trichiasis surgery was being implemented. The relay brought me to the health center. Then, I was operated in April 2017. I did not suffer from any complication or recurrence after the operation. My brother was also operated on his right eye. He got good outcomes after the surgery as well. Nevertheless, my wife still suffers from an ocular problem : I will bring her to the health center in order to treat her.

My name is Abou K. I come from southern Chad, where I grow crops. It has been more than 5 years that both my eyes are painful, crying and reddish, and it’s worst for my right eye. In my family, nobody has that problem. This disease prevents me from working properly on the field. The health agents told me that I was suffering from trachomatous trichiasis, that’s why they offered to get both of my eyes operated. As they assured me that the pain would disappear, I accepted the surgery.

My name is Acil T. I had trachomafor years. At the beginning I was thinking of a family curse, as everybody had this disease and that we would all become blind. We couldn’t work as much as when we were not affected by the disease. As we live in a very remote village, far from any health center, a medical team came to operate us and we are very happy about that. Now, I know that trachoma is a curable disease and I want to thank the team that gave us a new chance in life by enabling our family to get back to the field and get our crops.

My name is Halimé B. The surgeons have operated my two eyes. Before that, I was thinking that there was no hope for me and that I would become blind. I was really hopeless. Since last week's operation, my whole family is smiling again. I thank everybody that took part in the process.

My name is Halimé A. and I am from southern Chad. I felt my eyes tickling 7 years ago. After the first symptoms, it was difficult for me to prepare the boule (millet-based paste) for my children and my husband. At the beginning, I was really afraid to get operated. But as my husband was planning to get operated too, he advised me to do it as well. Since last week, I can take care of the domestic duties, such as sorting millet or groundnuts . I am happy again!

My name is Haroun T. I have been operated from the right eye last week. I have been suffering for the past 10 years. I was feeling a constant tingling which was quite inconvenient. I didn’t know that a treatment existed to get rid of this disease. Until last year, I was hindered and annoyed to do my field activities. Since I have been operated, my sight is good and I feel a huge relief, like the rest of my family. Indeed, five of us had trachoma. The whole family was operated on the same day.