This morning at 10:30 a.m. TOMS announced a new product -- eyeware -- and a new partnership with Seva to restore sight. TOMS will be working with Seva Foundation, our sister organization in Berkeley, to provide medical treatment, glasses and eye surgeries to the people of Nepal, Tibet and Cambodia. Here's a video of the launch that shows Dr. Chundak Tenzing, Seva's Sight Program Director and also Mr. Ram Prasad Kandel, Program Director of Seva Nepal.   While giving shoes to children in need, Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS, was struck by the poverty in many of the communities he was serving. He saw so many basic human needs that were still unmet. Blake immediately recognized the incredible power of One for One™, and came to the conclusion that TOMS should be a One for One™ company. With so many different needs around the world, he felt TOMS had an obligation to try to improve as many lives as possible. The first step in this new chapter of TOMS is sight. Why sight? Here's what TOMS says on their website: We started here because sight is a fundamental need. The loss of sight has a dramatic impact on a person's life - and on his or her family and community. TOMS is now giving to address this need because: 1 This is a Solvable Crisis Blindness and visual impairment is the seventh-largest health disability in the world. But in most cases it can be prevented or treated. In fact, available solutions, including medical treatment, prescription eyeglasses or a 15-minute cataract surgery, could impact 80% of people afflicted with vision impairment and blindness. 2 We Can Help Break the Poverty Trap Of the nearly 284 million people in the world who are visually impaired, almost 90% live in developing countries. It's a vicious cycle -- poverty and disease can lead to vision loss. And blindness and poor vision keep people trapped in poverty. 3 Sight Means Education and Opportunity More than 18 million children around the world suffer from blindness or impaired vision. Children who have trouble seeing are often unable to go to or succeed in school, and have fewer chances to achieve a productive and successful life. 4 Women Have an Equal Right to Sight Two-thirds of people who are blind are women, in part because many families in developing countries are more likely to pay for eye care for male family members. By providing easy to access local eye care, we can help more women and girls around the world get sight saving and restoring services. 5 There is an Immediate Impact Many of the solutions to blindness and visual impairment can be immediate. If it's a pair of eyeglasses or medical treatment that's needed, patients are treated on the spot. Those needing eye surgery are referred immediately so their vision can be restored within just a few days. 6 We Can Create a Better Tomorrow Regaining sight and preventing loss of sight transforms lives. Children can go to school the next day, and many adults return to work within a week and are once again able to provide for their families. When more people are able to lead healthy, productive lives, entire communities have a chance at a better future.

Sight Stories and News

  • A Daughter's Hope For Her Mother

    “I want my mother to have light and happiness again. That is my hope for my mother,” said Maguaye's daughter in Ethiopia.

    Blog | May 1st, 2024
  • Art for Sight

    What do you get when you bring together two committed Seva Canada supporters, one incredible artist, a beautiful beachside home and an inspired community? An art show fundraiser for Seva Canada that raised enough to restore the sight of 40 people!

    Blog | March 14th, 2024
  • Evidence Informed Practice Program

    In an effort to improve monitoring, evaluation and operational research capacity at program partner eye hospitals, Seva has launched the Evidence Informed Practice (EIP) program.

    Blog | March 14th, 2024