The International Service Arm of
Project Vision Hawaiʻi.

About Hawaiian Eye Foundation

Hawaiian Eye Foundation (HEF) is the international service arm of Project Vision Hawai‘i. HEF coordinates and promotes education and eye care in the developing world. Since 1984, Hawaiian Eye has been dedicated to promoting the preservation, restoration, and improvement of vision throughout the Pacific through charitable service, education, and research programs. Local Hawai‘i programs are handled by Project Vision Hawai‘i’s Better Vision For Keiki, Hui For Health, and Hiehie programs. We are proud to have merged the two organizations in order to effectively serve and increase access to better health and human services for the people of Hawaii, the Pacific, and beyond.

Project Vision Hawai'i relies on the generosity of our community to continue providing critical services. Whether you can donate your time or resources, your support makes a real difference.

Our Two Categories of Service:

Rural Missions

Locations We Serve:

PACIFIC:
Hawai’i
Marshall Islands
Tonga
Samoa
Palau
Fiji - Ba
Fiji - Taveuni
Kiribati
Yap
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea

Since 1984, Hawaiian Eye Foundation’s volunteer ophthalmologists have conducted regular, sight-saving surgery and training expeditions to developing Pacific Basin countries.

Expeditions usually last up to two weeks, and provide: eye screenings for 300 to 500 patients; major and minor eye surgeries for 50 to 150 patients; training for local eye care practitioners; and eye drops, reading glasses, sunglasses, and other supplies.

SOUTHEAST ASIA:
Vietnam
Myanmar
Thailand
Cambodia
Indonesia

NORTH AMERICA:
Mexico – Tijuana
Mexico – Tecate
Mexico – El Fuerte
Mexico – Lopez Mateos
Canada

OUTSIDE THE PACIFIC RIM:
Dominican Republic
Bolivia
The Bahamas
Zambia
Botswana
Costa Rica
St. Vincent
Ethiopia
Tanzania
Jamaica

Subspecialty Training

We believe that teaching is the best method towards sustainability. Rather than visit a country once to do surgery, we strive to bring our humble suggestions and trainings to local healthcare workers so that they can add modern techniques to their practice. Our goal is to provide quality eye care to all. Teaching doctors, nurses and techs allows us to provide that care vicariously. When we teach, they can care for more patients in a more successful manner.

MSICS TRAINING COURSE
(Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery)

Learn the MSICS technique to enhance your surgical skills and prepare for medical missions. To apply, email: contact@hawaiianeyefoundation.org

DR. JEFFREY RUTGARD, M.D., M.S MISSION DIRECTOR

Dr. Jeffrey Rutgard M.D. has served as a humanitarian Ophthalmologist for the last 25 years dedicating his life to curing cataract blindness in over 30 countries. He has done more than 35,000 MSICS surgeries in the mission setting.

Self-Sustainable Clinics

In order to uphold the work we do in each country, we have decided to grow our organization through sustainable clinics. To preserve the humble efforts we have made in each country and to perpetuate our doings, we strive to create longevity by:

  • Training local providers

  • Employing local staff who examine, screen and refer patients

  • Teaching best practices to clinic staff for efficiency

  • Patient recruitment by locals to increase trust despite stigmas

  • Fully equipped operating room for our mission surgeons to return to

  • Rotating various HEF specialists (all volunteers) to the clinic each year so all patients can be attended to

  • A telemedicine program allows input while not in-country

  • In certain clinics, helping to establish a payment system that provides services at extremely discounted rates with a sliding scale payment system that assures that those who can pay, do, and those who cannot afford to pay, receive free services. All receive the same quality care regardless of the ability to pay.

    • supplies and surgical services are provided for free by HEF and partners

    • only enough profit to pay local employees and keep the clinic open

These topics will assure the maintenance and conservation of a permanent clinic to provide quality service, even in HEF’s absence.

Join Our Affiliate Program!

Project Vision Hawai‘i dba Hawaiian Eye Foundation relies on volunteer ophthalmic surgeons, nurses, and techs for its eye care expeditions and training programs. We need volunteers to serve in the South Pacific, VietNam, SE Asia, Africa, and elsewhere in the world.

Volunteers generously donate the costs of their own travel and accommodations expenses. Family members and friends are always welcome to accompany ophthalmic volunteers. Non-medical spouses and children have been helpful in a variety of roles. We’ll train you!

Expedition Volunteers

Surgeons, nurses, techs and other medical volunteers
We regularly recruit volunteer ophthalmic surgeons to perform cataract / lens implant and other surgeries, and to train local eye care practitioners as a part of expeditions to Pacific Basin countries. We are also in need of ophthalmic nurses, techs, and other medical volunteers to teach and assist.

Training Program
We need ophthalmic surgeons to lecture on ophthalmic topics and demonstrate eye surgical techniques at our Imperial City Eye Meetings (ICEM) and Vietnamese American Ophthalmology Symposium (VAOS) in VietNam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos.

How to Volunteer
If you would like to serve as a volunteer, please join Hawaiian Eye Foundation as an Affiliate member. Affiliate members are among the first to learn about and be considered for volunteer opportunities.

MD Affiliates are asked to make a tax deductible membership contribution of $100 annually, which helps defray the costs of administering our volunteer program. Membership contributions are waived for non-MD’s, and for MD’s residing in developing countries.

How To Sign Up

Complete the Electronic Affiliate Application

Click the “Membership Contribution” button below to complete your membership payment