Give the Gift of Sight
Your Generosity Helps Bring Vision Care to People Who Need It in El Salvador
Recycle Eyewear >
Restore Sight >
Renew Hope >
Comprehensive Eye Exams
Our teams provide free, detailed eye exams to prescribe eyeglasses and identify conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy — many of which are treatable if caught early.
Consults and Minor Procedures
Our ophthalmologists work closely with patients to address conditions identified by optometrists, offering expert guidance and treatment. Sometimes, that care is as immediate as removing a painful foreign object. Other times, more help is needed.
Sight-Saving Surgeries
We partner with caring Salvadoran surgical teams to provide life-changing eye surgeries like cataract and pterygium removal. For many, it’s the first time they clearly see a loved one’s face. And even after our team leaves, patients are supported by local doctors who ensure their recovery continues. It’s not just care — it’s a second chance at sight and life.
Prosthetic Eyes
For patients who’ve lost an eye, we provide custom prosthetic eyes — completely free of charge. It’s a small gift that restores dignity, confidence, and a sense of wholeness. It’s part of a year-round effort to bring lasting hope and healing to those we serve.
Glasses Distribution
We distribute and custom-fit prescription glasses, readers, and sunglasses to children, adults, and elders in need. These simple gifts help improve daily life — from learning and working to protecting vision for years to come.
Community Outreach & Education
We’re building collaborations with local groups to promote long-term eye health, offering education that extends beyond our annual clinics and empowers people to care for their vision year-round.
Patients Seen in 2025
0
(everyone saw a doctor)Eyeglasses Distributed in 2025
0
(Readers)0
(Prescriptions Eyeglasses)Patients Seen Since 1995
0
Prosthetic Eyes Made
0
Eye Surgeries in 2025
0
Why El Salvador?
In many areas of El Salvador, access to affordable eye care is limited or nonexistent. Preventable blindness and poor vision are common due to a lack of resources and intense ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. Eye Care International – El Salvador focuses on reaching these communities with compassionate care and sustainable solutions.
Get Involved
Sponsor a Surgery: Change a Life in One Clear Moment
Imagine living in darkness — unable to see your child’s face, read a book, or walk safely through your home. Now imagine that with a single act of kindness, you could give that person their sight back.
Just $550 covers the full cost of a life-changing eye surgery in El Salvador — restoring not only vision but dignity, independence, and hope.
We work directly with compassionate Salvadoran surgeons who donate their time and skill. Your donation covers the surgical supplies, equipment, and follow-up care — all delivered in trusted, local surgical centers.
This is your chance to make a permanent difference.
100% Mission. 0% Overhead
Eye Care International – El Salvador is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a simple model: every dollar goes directly to patient care.
We have no paid staff, no office, and no overhead. Every team member — from surgeons to support volunteers — donates their time and pays their own travel, room, and board.
This means your support doesn’t cover salaries — it restores sight, funds surgeries, and delivers glasses to people who would otherwise go without. Your donation of any amount will be used to:
- Supply eye medications and artificial tears
- Purchase eyeglasses and readers as needed to supplement donated inventory
- Store inventory, equipment, and supplies, such as documentation forms and eye charts, in El Salvador
- Cover shipping costs and customs fees
- Reimburse Project Coordinator expenses to coordinate Salvadoran interpreter volunteer teams and to make arrangements to use facilities for clinics, lodging for volunteers, and services for upcoming missions
Volunteer in El Salvador
Join Eye Care International—El Salvador in the clinic and experience firsthand the impact of restoring sight for underserved people. We welcome medical professionals and general volunteers with a heart for service.
Roll Up Your Sleeves & Make an Impact — Right Here at Home
Each year, we collect tens of thousands of donated eyeglasses to send to El Salvador, and getting them ready is a massive, joyful effort, with a carry-in meal at the end.
If you’re near Northeast Ohio, we’d love to welcome you to one of our high-energy work parties— fun, hands-on sessions where we clean, sort, and prepare glasses for their journey to those who need them most.
Whether you’re sorting donations, joining the “wash, sanitize, rinse, dry” crew, or learning the art of neutralizing lenses (using simple tools to determine each lens’s prescription), there's a place for everyone — no experience needed.
You can also help by scribing— writing down the prescription information for each pair— ensuring every set of glasses gets matched to the perfect new owner.
These aren’t just work sessions— they're community, purpose, and a whole lot of heart. Come for the cause, stay for the people.
Featured Blog
🌞 Protect Your Eyes from the Sun!
The Sun Can Harm Your Vision—But You Can Prevent It Did You Know? Too much sunlight can damage your eyes, just like it can damage your skin. ☀️ What Can the Sun Do to Your Eyes? 👀 Who’s Most at Risk? 🕶️ How to Protect Your Eyes: ✅ Wear sunglasses with UV protection✅ Use a…