Preventing Blindness
En Français- Overview
- Primary Eyecare
The Problem
- 285 million children and adults are vision-impaired due to uncorrected refractive error or eye diseases.
- Of these, nearly 39 million people are blind, with most of them living in the developing world.
- They have lost not only their sight, but also their ability to contribute productively to their families – trapping them in a cycle of poverty and poor health.
What HKI Is Doing
- Through our work, Helen Keller International can prevent blindness. In fact, 80% of all blindness is avoidable, with simple, proven solutions such as adequate vitamin A, low-cost surgeries, and annual doses of antibiotics.
- Working together, and supported by our donors, Helen Keller International is preventing blindness worldwide by bringing solutions to millions of vulnerable people. Our programs include Cataract Treatment, Onchocerciasis Control, Trachoma Control, Vision Correction/ChildSight®, Vitamin A Supplementation. We also have begun new programs in Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment, and work to seek treatments and cures for all Neglected Tropical Diseases, including those that are not blinding.
- Program Locations
- Bangladesh
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Côte d'Ivoire
- China
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Guinea
- Indonesia
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Tanzania
- United States
- Vietnam
- Recent News
- HKI Wins Prestigious Champalimaud Vision Award for its Achievements in Preventing Blindness
- "Pursuing a Common Vision: Opportunities for Collaboration Between the Eye Health and Nutrition Sectors"
- "Much of the Blindness in Tanzania Can Be Prevented"
- more...
- Key Publications
- Integrating Community Ophthalmology into Comprehensive Eye Care In Vietnam
- Nutrition News for Africa: Assessment of Plasma Zinc Status of Senile Cataract and Non-Cataract Elderly Patients in Mid Western Nigeria - A Case Study of Edo and Delta States of Nigeria.
- Nutrition News for Africa: Integrating Vitamin A Supplementation into CDTI: The Experience of Helen Keller International and The Micronutrient Initiative.
- more...









