Combat Blindness Foundation

Founded in 1984 by Dr. Suresh Chandra, Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, the Foundation is run by community leaders in Madison and Dane County who serve as the Board of Directors as well as renowned ophthalmologists from around the world who serve on the Advisory Board.

The first major effort of the Combat Blindness Foundation involved collaboration with the King George's Medical College in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. This effort was a significant achievement, providing eye care to 1,328 patients and restoring sight to 319 people blinded from cataract. This was a small number compared to the magnitude of the problem, but it was just the beginning.

After five years of sponsorship, a total of 27,370 patients had been examined and 6,492 free cataract surgeries were performed. At the end of 2000, after 15 years of sponsorship, 452,984 patients have been examined, 70,580 cataract surgeries have been performed, and 5,294 other eye surgeries have been performed. CBF has also supported the building of an intraocular lens factory and a suture factory at Aravind Eye Hospital.

To date, most of the Combat Blindness Foundation support has been done in collaboration with Aravind Eye Hospital, King George's Medical College, LV Prasad Eye Hospital, and Sitapur Eye Hospital which are located in India. Other projects have been supported in India, Kenya, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Click to see Dr. Chandra's presentation on CBF.