A cataract operation, the old-fashioned way. © Sightsavers

A cataract operation, the old-fashioned way. © Sightsavers

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Our History

For 60 years Sightsavers has been restoring sight and improving the lives of people who are irreversibly blind in poor countries around the world. We were founded in the 1950s by Sir John Wilson, with the express aim of restoring sight - wherever possible - in former Commonwealth countries.

"It has been estimated that the number of blind people in the world will increase from 44 million in 2000 to 76 million by 2020, if action is not taken to reduce blindness."

Today, we work with partners in over 30 countries and our mission has expanded to also provide services to the blind and campaign for the eradication of needless blindness.


What lies ahead

It has been estimated that the number of blind people in the world will increase from 44 million in 2000 to 76 million by 2020, if action is not taken to reduce blindness. The economic cost of this blindness is immense, and developing countries could potentially achieve a €207 billion boost in economic productivity over the next 20 years if they adopt appropriate measures to reduce blindness.

Sightsavers will continue working closely with partners around the world to contribute to our goal of eliminating avoidable blindness. We will also be calling for international action to include children who are blind in mainstream education. This is essential if the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education by 2015 is to be achieved.