Seva Screens the Eyes of Over 100,000 Children in Cambodia

For nearly 20 years, Seva has been dedicated to building sustainable pediatric eye care programs in Cambodia - programs that provide sight-saving care to children in need throughout the country.

In addition to barriers from poverty and rural isolation, present in most developing countries, Cambodia has a unique shortage of eye care professionals, due to the targeted genocide of educated persons during the country's civil war in the 1970s.

This left the children of Cambodia without access to an eye doctor.

To address this, Seva is training teams of ophthalmologists, surgeons, and nurses, all dedicated to preventing blindness and saving the eyesight of those in need throughout the country.

Teachers and volunteers from each community have also been trained by Seva to detect eye care issues and refer children to a hospital for needed treatment.

These practitioners help children to receive the care they need. In many cases, a child’s eyesight, and even life, is saved thanks to the prevention of what may have started off as just a minor eye infection.

In the past year, Seva’s programs in Cambodia have provided 102,111 eye exams, 8,557 sight-restoring eye surgeries, and prescribed 1,348 pairs of eyeglasses.

We are proud that more than 50% of the people Seva provides care to are children.

Seva’s Executive Director, Jack Blanks, explains, “A simple eye exam and a pair of glasses, can open up a whole world for children who before couldn’t even see the chalk board. Each Cambodian child who is able to stay in school will now have a much better chance at succeeding in life.”

These incredibly important programs in Cambodia are supported by donors like you, as well as by grants from Ronald McDonald House Charities and other private foundations. Seva is also grateful to our partners who donate medicine, equipment and supplies and significant amounts of professional volunteer time.


Partner Spotlight: Angkor Hospital for Children Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Seva-supported Angkor Hospital for Children's eye unit opened in 2002 thanks to support from donors like you.

This state-of-the-art facility has a pediatric operating room, outpatient clinic, and community outreach program focused on reaching those in need.

Dedicated staff include a pediatric ophthalmologist, eye surgeon, anesthesiologist, five nurses and a clerk.

With support from Seva, last year, Angkor Hospital for Children served 22,947 children in need. They performed 2,758 sight-saving eye surgeries, and treated 7,296 children for other medical eye issues. Prescription eyeglasses were provided to 1,039 children.

By building the local capacity of communities to provide eye care, Seva ensures that the programs we build on the ground are sustainable for years to come.

Angkor Hospital for Children is a shining example of what can be accomplished when we all join together and turn Compassion into Action.