SEE International
2016 Impact Report
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Alone we can do so little;
together we can do so much.
– Helen Keller
Letter from the President & CEO
“Building on a Promise”
2016 represents a year of incredible transformation and exponential growth for SEE International, thanks to your generous support. During the twelve-month period ending 12/31/16 our extremely passionate and eminently skilled volunteer doctors performed 17,002 “miracle” sight-restoring surgeries while providing free eye exams to 82,110 men, women and children.
In addition to these impressive and measurable accomplishments, we also laid the foundation (with your help) for a new period of unprecedented, dynamic growth. We have expanded our education program, now training our volunteer doctors to treat a wider array of conditions including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
We also strengthened our “extended loan” program, allowing SEE to lend critical pieces of technology and supplies to in-country clinics over the long-term. Most importantly, we are increasing our support of global program partners by closely listening to them, so that we can specifically meet their needs, as our partners know their communities and clinic requirements best.
At SEE, we are expanding the range and depth of our programs as rapidly as possible, while still maintaining our high standards of excellence. The world needs the crucial work we facilitate in over 40 countries worldwide – right now.
An estimated 36 million people worldwide are currently blind, with an additional 217 million having moderate or severe visual impairment. However, the global population is aging rapidly. A recent study indicates that unless we significantly improve access to eye health services, the number of blind people will triple to 115 million by 2050.
Thankfully, 80% of all blindness cases are either preventable or treatable. Due to the commitment of doctors, donors, nonprofits, and government programs around the world, there were 21 million fewer people suffering from blindness than projected. We are already making a difference. Together, we can create a world where no one is needlessly blind.
We have laid a strong foundation this year for tremendous growth in our organization, as we prepare to meet the growing needs of visually impaired people worldwide. I know it will be an exciting journey, and I am glad to count you as a partner in our work.
SEE International provides sustainable medical, surgical, and educational services through volunteer ophthalmic surgeons with the objectives of restoring sight and preventing blindness to disadvantaged individuals worldwide.
2016 By the Numbers
2016 Highlights
Program Updates
International Programs
In 2016, SEE International medical teams performed 17,002 vital eye surgeries and screened 81,110 people.
Angola
Bahamas
Belize
Bolivia
Cambodia
China
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Ethiopia
Fiji
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Kenya
Laos
Liberia
Mexico
Mongolia
Myanmar
Namibia
Nigeria
Paraguay
Palau
Pakistan
Panama
Peru
Sierra Leone
St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Swaziland
Tanzania
Thailand
United States
Vietnam
Zambia
Surgical Impact
# of Surgeries
By Type
- Cataract
- Pterygia
- Glaucoma
- Strabismus
- Other
- Cataract
- Pterygia
- Glaucoma
- Strabismus
- Other
By Region
- Asia & The Pacific
- Africa
- South America
- Central America & The Caribbean
- North America
- Asia & The Pacific
- Africa
- South America
- Central America & The Caribbean
- North America
Training & Education
“The joy in using the skills and knowledge we possess to make a small but measurable difference in this world provides a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives.” -Eleanor Cooper, RN
Training and education are fundamental and growing aspects of our work. In order to increase the capacity of our partner sites we provide training for both in-country medical professionals and traveling US-based SEE volunteers.
Educational components vary from site to site, and are adjusted based on local need. Formal training opportunities exist for both visiting and in-country SEE Docs on a variety of topics from cataract surgery techniques to the latest approaches to glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy. Cross-cultural informal training also happens on each expedition. Visiting SEE Docs from the U.S share the latest techniques and best practices with in-country ophthalmologists. In turn, the in-country SEE Docs share their field experience, and teach visiting doctors the best approaches for difficult cases not often seen in the developed world. These training opportunities equip local vision care providers with the tools they need to successfully provide necessary vision care year-round, while broadening the expertise of SEE’s traveling volunteers.
Through our partnerships with Vision Outreach International and the Alcon Foundation, SEE has grown its training programs from a total of 3 courses in 2014 to 14 courses in 2016. As a result, we have trained more than three times as many doctors per year, expanding from 18 doctors trained in 2014 to 62 doctors in 2016.
Want to learn more or register for a course? Visit www.seeintl.org/msics today!
Doctors Trained
Santa Barbara Vision Care Program
SEE’s local program provided free comprehensive eye care to 1,823 community members in need in 2016.
In addition to its international work, SEE is dedicated to providing vision care in its hometown of Santa Barbara. Through a community network of partners and volunteers, the Santa Barbara Vision Care Program (SBVCP) has provided safety-net comprehensive vision care services for more than 58,000 low-income families and individuals. The program provides free vision screenings as well as prescriptions, medications, vouchers for eyeglasses, and vital eye surgeries for those in need.
In addition to ongoing clinics, we held two major events in 2016:
– In November, in honor of Veterans Day, we collaborated with Sansum Clinic to hold a free screening event which served 79 people.
– In December, we held our first Children’s Sight Week which provided free eye screenings to 199 children in need.
In total, the program served 1,823 people in 2016, a 12% increase from 2015.
Learn more about our local work here: www.seeintl.org/sbvcp!
Patients Served
2016 FINANCIALS
FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
REVENUE GROWTH
(Cash & In-Kind)
- Revenue in Millions
HOW WE USE OUR FUNDS
PROGRAM SERVICES 98%
FUNDRAISING 1%
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL 1%
TOGETHER, WE ARE CHANGING LIVES
Every day, SEE brings humanitarians together across the world to make the world a brighter place. We are extremely grateful for all of your generous support. We couldn’t do this work with you.
We would specifically like to recognize the 2016 support of our:
