SEE International

It was back in 1974 that Dr. Harry Brown founded SEE International to address the global lack of access to high-quality clinical eyecare. His team soon developed an efficient mobile eye surgery system consisting of intensive, short-term surgical clinics that could travel to medically underserved populations in remote areas worldwide, performing sight-saving surgeries. 

What began with a small group of medical professionals soon grew into a network of what is now over 650 volunteer ophthalmologists, both traveling and host doctors alike, who provide not only the surgeries but tools, training, and expertise to help combat preventable blindness. In half a century, SEE International (which stands for Surgical Eye Expeditions) has had an outsized impact, serving more than five million people in 40 countries and providing more than 750,000 surgeries. 

The numbers are staggering, but the stories behind the numbers are even more enlightening, as restoring sight has a massive impact on the individual, their families and their whole community, making everyone stronger and more economically independent. 

“There’s so many health issues linked to the eyes,” explained Rachel Tennant, SEE’s Chief Development Officer. “If you lose your sight, you can lose the ability to work, you disengage from society, and that can cause all sorts of issues, especially with mental health. Children might quit going to school, or a family member can’t work anymore. The eyes and eyesight are a very essential part of our bodies, and visual impairments create a perpetual cycle. It creates hardship for not only an individual but a family, a community, and an economy.”

SEE’s ability to provide – through its network of expert volunteer doctors – free sight-restoring surgeries and essential eye care to people who would otherwise not have access to these services, has continued to grow exponentially over the years. The nonprofit now conducts about 50,000 surgeries or other eye care services each year as well as runs education and training programs and provides direct supply support. 

What holds SEE International back from growing even faster and providing more support is the funding necessary to coordinate the care and provide medical supplies and equipment. With more than a billion people worldwide living with treatable vision loss due to a lack of quality eye care, there’s no end to the need. Tennant estimated it takes about $100 per surgery to cover everything, so more support would allow for more logistical coordination and service to a growing number of people. 

“Each dollar donated creates a ripple effect in the people that we serve,” Tennant said. “It makes a huge difference in their world. More support allows us to continue to scale up and help more people.” 

While much of the impact SEE has is, as its name suggests, international, the organization also has a strong presence here at home in the Santa Barbara community. Its Santa Barbara Vision Care (SBVC) program, which operates five clinics from Goleta to Thousand Oaks, serves upwards of 6,000 patients each year, providing free eye exams and eyeglasses to our most vulnerable populations, including children. The local clinics are also growing their capacity to meet the ever-expanding need in town. 

But hitting half a century of service is a major milestone that deserves to be celebrated and SEE International has something in the works for October. 

Since its last Night for Sight gala a decade ago, SEE International has generally eschewed the standard nonprofit annual benefit bash as a means to fill its coffers, preferring instead to touch base with potential donors on more personalized levels at micro events such as donor appreciation gatherings, and to put more of its resources into work that directly focuses on its patients. 

But this year is different. 

“Turning 50 is an opportunity we could not pass up,” said Tennant. “We’re very excited about this gala, which celebrates the fact that since 1974 we have reached great heights in our mission to end preventable blindness around the world and at home. We’re looking forward to celebrating these achievements and advancing our efforts further through the event.” 

SEE’s 50th Anniversary Gala, slated for October 24 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, is a Black-Tie event that includes a cocktail hour, three-course dinner and live entertainment, plus an after-party across the hall complete with more music, dancing and cocktails. Sponsorships and individual tickets are available now to further the organization’s goal of a world where preventable blindness no longer exists and the cycle of hardship caused by blindness and visual impairment is halted. Contact development@seeintl.org or call (805) 380-7522 for more information. 

“We really want the community to be part of this celebration, to either come to the gala or perhaps make a contribution towards our organization’s needs, which would be phenomenal,” Tennant said. 

It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with this locally-headquartered organization with a huge worldwide impact, whose officers who are only too happy to talk with local philanthropists. 

“Please let people know I’m readily available,” Tennant said.