Missions

About Our Missions

The Eye Health Institute is a non-profit organization which provides comprehensive eye care to the underserved people of Jamaica. Our volunteers have served over 5000 people and provided more than 3000 pairs of glasses free of charge. We have conducted eye care missions since 2000 and our volunteers have been seeing patients since 1996.

2010 Jamaican Fundraiser

Get ready for our Jamaica 2010 fundraiser! Be certain to join us for the 2010 Reggae on the Creek on August 20th at the Millennium Harvest House in Boulder this coming August 28th. Raffle tickets will be on sale, and a drawing will take place with prizes including an American Airlines Vacation valued at $1000, a cruiser from University Bicycles, and many other items. The Silent Auction will feature valuable items from local Pedestrian Shops, Liquor Mart, Lake Valley Golf Course, Area Restaurants, and services such as LASIK vision correction. Don’t miss this wonderful event to help support quality eye care for Jamaica.

2009 Jamaican Mission a Success!

MONTEGO BAY, St James - The American Eye Health Institute, a non-profit organization, this week completed corneal transplants for four patients who couldn't have afforded the expensive procedure otherwise.

Dr. Claudine Green Hemmings, head of the ophthamology unit at the Cornwall Regional Hospital where the procedures were carried out, also expressed gratitude to the six-member team headed by Jamaican-born Dr Richard Cross.

"It is a very expensive venture, it is not done in any of the public hospitals because remember these corneas are expensive. One cornea costs over US$3000, then transportation, importation... everything," she said.

In the meantime, Dr. Hemmings is expressing the need for the establishment of an eye bank to improve the availability of widespread, affordable corneal grafting in Jamaica. Apart from corneal grafting, the Eye Health Institute has also been instrumental in carrying out 17 cataract and glaucoma surgeries at the Cornwall Reginonal Hospital. With support from the ministry of health, the American mission which has been visiting Jamaica for the past 14 years and has been carrying out eye examination and providing eyeglasses and eye drops for patients in western Jamaica.

Photos from 2009 mission to Jamaica

Andy at our 2009 Jamaican Mission Patients waiting at our 2009 Jamaican Mission

Patients at our 2009 Jamaican mission Performing an eye exam

Measuring a boy's height in Jamaica Meghan talks with a Jamaican boy

Dr. Akers greets boy patient Dr. Edwards performs an eye exam

Screening at a Jamaican school Kandy performs an eye test

Jamaica 2009: Eye Surgeries

We have been asked to perform a much needed corneal transplant at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay. Our goal is to provide additional eye surgeries to patients with cataracts and other conditions as well. We are one of the few volunteer health care organizations that is dedicated to providing continuity of care to rural Jamaica.

This year we need to acquire eyeglass manufacturing equipment which will allow us to make prescription eyewear following our examinations. We need to obtain vision testers to enhance our school screening programs. A portable auto-refractor would increase efficiency at our vision clinics. A surgical microscope stand is needed to facilitate surgeries in underserved areas.

Jamaica 2008: A Very Successful Mission

November 2008 was our most productive and successful mission to date.Our surgical team performed 19 eye surgeries at the Lucea Hospital. We served 700 patients at various clinics in Western Jamaica and dispensed 260 prescription eyeglasses. In addition, over-the-counter readers and sunglasses were distributed to needy Jamaicans. Enjoy browsing through our photo gallery below:

Our 2008 volunteer team Patient waiting room