About see

Our Mission

Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International, Inc. is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides medical, surgical and educational services by volunteer ophthalmic surgeons with the primary objective of restoring sight to disadvantaged blind individuals worldwide.

What We Do

At the invitation of eye surgeons in developing countries, and with the approval of local health and civic authorities, SEE International recruits, organizes and deploys numerous small surgical teams worldwide. Since being founded in 1974, SEE’s eye surgeons have examined more than three-million patients and performed over a third of a million sight-restoring operations. 

SEE International is the link that connects affiliate ophthalmologists to host clinic sites that are in desperate need of help alleviating the overwhelming numbers of people living in darkness.  SEE International organizes the clinics and provides most of the equipment and supplies that are needed.  Affiliate ophthalmologists donate their time and pay for all their own travel expenses.  During each clinic (approximately five days long) 50-200 people are given the gift of sight.  In order to accomplish this amazing feat and at such a low cost (approximately $108 per surgery),  SEE International has established an effective network that includes such companies as Johnson & Johnson, Bausch & Lomb and Alcon who donate most of the supplies that are used for the clinics.

In 2007, SEE International held 72 expeditions, and sent an additional 29 support packages worldwide. Through the efforts of our affiliates, staff and other volunteers, 40,610 patients were screened and 9,308 received much needed surgery.