Kenneth Turley, MD

Medical Director

Linkedin

Professional Education, Practice, and Affiliations

Kenneth Turley, M.D., studied at Brigham Young University, earned his medical degree from Texas Tech Univ. School of Medicine, his ophthalmology residency from U. Of Texas Southwestern in Dallas before establishing his successful career practice in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He is founder of the Idaho Eye Center—the state’s first surgery center dedicated exclusively to eye surgery. After more than 35 years serving the community of Eastern Idaho, Dr. Turley retired from active practice to shift his focus on global humanitarian work. Today, he devotes his time and expertise to restoring sight for people in underserved regions of the world as well as teaching MSICS techniques to U.S. and international ophthalmologists.

Born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, where his parents served as missionaries, Dr. Turley brings a deep sense of gratitude and personal connection to his humanitarian service. For him, restoring sight is more than a medical service—it’s a way of transforming lives, enabling patients to work, care for their families, and regain independence. With no plans to slow down, he continues to find joy and purpose in helping others see the world more clearly.

Service with SEE International

Dr. Turley was a dedicated volunteer with Deseret International (now Charity Vision) starting in 1982 and with SEE International starting in 2015. Through his service he has brought training in sutureless eye surgery (MSICS) to more than 70 residents and practicing ophthalmologists as well as free screenings and eye surgery to several thousand patients in underserved communities around the world, completing over 50 didactic and surgical programs and counting!

He has participated in such programs in 19 countries—Argentina (Buenos Aires, Bahia Blanca & Cordoba), Bolivia (La Paz & Altiplano), Cabo Verde Islands (Santiago, Sao Vicente & Sal), Colombia (Bogotá, Cali, Cúcuta, Sta. Marta, Bucaramanga, Popayán & Ubaté), Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa, Boma & Bukavu), Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), El Salvador (San Salvador, Usulután & San Miguel), Haiti (Port-au-Prince & Petit Guave), Honduras (El Progreso, Olanchito, La Ceiba & Jutiapa), Mexico (Nuevo Casas Grandes & Guerrero, Chihuahua; Montemorelos, Nuevo León; Pachuca, Hidalgo; Iguala, Guerrero; El Fuerte, Sinaloa), Madagascar (Antananarivo, Sambava & Morondava), Myanmar (Mandalay & Hsipaw), Namibia (Wundhoek, Gogabis, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Outapi, Oshakati, Okongo, Rundu, Tsumeb & Katima Mulilo), Panama (Chepo), Paraguay (Asuncion), Peru (Lima), Philippines (Bohol), and Sierra Leone (Freetown, Bo, Kenema & Makeni) and Uruguay (Montevideo, Florida & Rivera).

Global & Local Health Initiatives

For 7 years (2015 to 2022) Dr. Turley and his wife Sharon served with LDS Charities traveling to many countries of Africa, South and Central America where they developed projects for eye surgery equipment donations with subsequent training on that equipment to hospitals, clinics and ophthalmologists needing that equipment and training to better serve the indigent. In many of these international projects, SEE graciously participated, providing surgical supplies enabling Dr. Turley to teach the MSICS techniques to local ophthalmologists while at the same time they learned to use new biometers, microscopes and other equipment provided by the LDS Church.

“MSICS restores light, useful life and self- esteem. Each successful surgery restores in me a passion with purpose.”

Active Roles and Recognitions