Global Impact: ESCRS Charity Updates
Cataract blindness remains the leading cause of preventable vision loss in developing regions, and much of the ESCRS’ charitable work focuses on bringing life-changing cataract surgery to communities with extremely limited ophthalmic care. Across several countries, our Society supports projects with funding, personnel, and essential medical equipment.
Catholic Diocese of Wau, South Sudan
In South Sudan, one of the world’s poorest and most conflict-stricken countries, the ESCRS works with the Catholic Diocese of Wau to deliver regular 'eye campaigns' in and around the city. Despite the country’s almost non-existent ophthalmic infrastructure, these missions have had remarkable impact: over the past five years, Dr. Kenneth Lado and his team have performed around 11,000 cataract surgeries, while an additional 36,000 patients received conservative treatment.
The next campaign, planned for December 2025 in Aweil, aims to restore sight to another 1,500 people.
Find out more:
- ESCRS-Supported Project in South Sudan, Western Bahr Ghazal, and Raja County
- Germany-backed eye care restore sight for 1,200 in Wau
- Germany backs eye surgery drive to help thousands in Wau
- South Sudanese Catholic Diocese Targets Hundreds of Patients in Eye Surgeries
- Diocese of Wau
Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, Malawi
In Blantyre, Malawi, the society supports the Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach (BICO). With only 14 ophthalmologists and 10 non-physician cataract surgeons for a population of 20 million, the country faces a staggering care gap. BICO’s mission is to train high-volume cataract surgeons who can serve rural areas where the need is most acute.
Find out more:
St. John’s Eye Hospital, East Jerusalem and Gaza
ESCRS remains committed to conflict zones. One of its most strongly supported initiatives is St. John’s Eye Hospital in East Jerusalem and Gaza, where teams continue providing cataract surgery to Palestinians with severely restricted access to medical care - despite ongoing destruction, resource shortages, and immense emotional strain on staff and patients alike.
Find out more:
- St. John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group
- The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem: Providing Eye Care Where None Exists
ESCRS in Ukraine
ESCRS has provided specialised ophthalmic support to Ukraine during the difficult time, focusing on maintaining eye-care services. It created a dedicated relief fund and delivered equipment and medical supplies to more than 26 sites, including a specialist surgical microscope, glaucoma implants and donated endoscopes. This support strengthens Ukrainian clinics’ ability to treat eye injuries and restore vision for civilians and soldiers. ESCRS also assists Ukrainian surgeons with membership and training, helping sustain ophthalmic care despite wartime disruption. ESCRS also supports Ukrainian ophthalmologists directly by offering them free or reduced-cost membership, free or discounted registration at ESCRS congresses and training opportunities.
Find out more:
Eyes on the World, Mozambique
For few years the collaboration between ESCRS and Eyes of the World has substantial long-term impact; the joint outreach in Mozambique’s Inhambane province ensures underserved communities get access to quality eye-health care under a human-rights and gender-equity framework.
Over 22 years, Eyes of the World has trained more than 14,000 local eye-health professionals and helped over 1 million people with eye care services. Work doesn’t stop at treatments - it builds sustainable, integrated eye-care networks at primary and secondary health-care levels in partnership with local authorities, ensuring long-term availability and local capacity. As a result, thousands of people have had cataract surgeries, vision restored, improved quality of life, better educational and economic opportunities.
Find out more:
Ridley Eye Foundation, Nepal
ESCRS supported a field eye clinic in Baramchi, Sindhupalchok District, where the Ridley Eye Foundation (REF) triaged 591 patients and restored sight to 77 people in just six days. Working in high-altitude communities where phaco is not feasible, REF brings manual small-incision cataract surgery directly to those otherwise left blind. Local surgeons ensure safe, practical care, with follow-up built in. Beyond outreach camps, REF is training an ophthalmologist to be permanently based in Jumla, creating a sustainable hub and spoke system for long-term impact.
Find out more:
Kwale, Kenya
In Kwale, Kenya, ESCRS funding enabled life-changing paediatric cataract surgery for some of the region’s most vulnerable children. The grant funded 32 intraocular lenses, allowing 25 children to receive surgery. The results have been truly inspiring; more than 80% of young patients achieved functional visual acuity of 0.4 (6/15) or better. Children were able to continue their schooling and play with friends again, opening the door independence and a brighter future.
Community Eye Health Institute at the University of Cape Town, South Africa
ESCRS support for the Surgical Training Unit (STU) of the Community Eye Health Institute (CEHI) at the University of Cape Town is having an even greater impact on the quality quantity of cataract surgery in Africa. The STU is expanding its capacity to train the next generation of cataract surgeons and over a hundred ophthalmic surgeons from all over Africa have benefited from intensive short course surgical training modelled on the Royal College of Ophthalmologists courses. With strong governance, transparent reporting and excellent progress, we are confident that this partnership will continue to elevate surgical training.
The College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa
ESCRS also contributes to surgical skills development by contributing to phaco wetlabs at The College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COECSA) Congresses.
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