Preventable Blindness

4 out of 5 people in developing countries live with a blindness-causing vision condition that is either treatable or preventable. This means that millions of people who are blind don’t need to be – in many cases, a simple operation can restore sight, or a dose of antibiotics can prevent blindness. They live with blindness because they cannot access quality inclusive eye health care.

Since 1978, OPC has worked to ensure the human right to sight. We do this by:

Sharing knowledge and training human resources in ophthalmology
Establishing and/or strengthening eye care programs in French-speaking African countries
Empowering local teams of eye health care professionals
Implementing processes to ensure the sustainability of eye health activities

OPC supports local research, treatment and cures programs that provide quality comprehensive and inclusive eye health care to communities in Francophone Africa. When people can see, they can go to work, start businesses, continue their studies in school, take care of their families and live more productive lives that contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty in developing countries.

OPC develops programs in collaboration with partner countries and their Ministries of Health, which have ownership of all programs and are responsible for their implementation. We also work with partners on the local and regional levels to ensure that the communities actively participate and take ownership of eye health programs every step of the way.

Testimonials

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.

You can help the Organization for the Prevention of Blindness empower through sight in Francophone Africa.

Consider making a gift today. Gifts by check can be made out to KBFUS with “American Friends of OPC” in the memo section. Please send checks to KBFUS:

10 Rockefeller Plaza, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10020.

Or make your gift by credit card online here:

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Programs (90%)

Fundraising costs (8%)

Operating costs (2%)

At the Organization for the Prevention of Blindness (OPC), we chose to be a “glass house” to explain where every dollar goes. We owe it to you. Of every dollar we spend, 95 cents goes to preserving and restoring eyesight of the world’s most vulnerable people.

Preventable Blindness

Testimonials

You can help the Organization for the Prevention of Blindness empower through sight in Francophone Africa.

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