Overall cataract surgeries in the Philippines 2019

PhilHealth listed 105,683 cataract surgeries claims in 2019. EYE hEAR Foundation together with our partners did a total of 8,333 of which 4,464 are non-PhilHealth or did not utilize their PhilHealth. 

In the pie below, it shows that 7% of the total cataract surgeries done was done by us and partners

Whereas, in the pie chart illustrated below, of our total cataract surgeries output, more than half (56%) did not claim PhilHealth. It does not necessarily mean they are not members of the national health insurance but they could be members but cannot file reimbursement due to the standing circular of PhilHealth that when it's done in an outreach or what they call a 'mission' setup, the doctors or the hospitals cannot claim. May pre-approval po kasi ang cataract surgery na niri-release ng PhilHealth bago mai-skedyul ang operasyon at hindi natin ito magagawa o maaasikaso sa setup ng Outreach. Ang circular na ito at ang isa pang circular na nagsasabing ang ophthalmologist ay maari lamang gumawa ng limampung (50) surgeries sa isang buwan ay halimbawa ng pagkokontrol na nakikita nating hindi makatao at hindi patient-centered na desisyon ng PHilHealth. Para sa amin, isa itong balakid para matamo o maabot natin ang ating hangarin na wala sanang Pilipino na nabubulag na hindi naman dapat. 

Sana marinig at maaksyonan na ang ating matagal ng adbokasiya sa Department of Health at PhilHealth. 

No Filipino should go needlessly blind.

BEFORE, DURING and AFTER CATARACT SURGERY CARE

General guidelines lamang po ito kung sakaling magpaopera o nagpa-opera ka sa katarata. Kung may ibang instruction pa ang doktor mo na hindi kasama dito, sundin po yun.

BEFORE the Surgery

CAN I EAT OR DRINK BEFORE SURGERY?                                  

We encourage you to take clear liquids, NO MILK up until 2 hours before surgery.  We want you to be well hydrated when you arrive for your surgery.  YOU CAN EAT AND TAKE MILK up until 6 hours before surgery.  NO FOOD OR MILK AFTER THAT.

CAN I WEAR EYE MAKEUP BEFORE SURGERY?                                   

Eye make-up can contain particles and bacteria (particularly eyeliner and mascara) so we stop them 3 days prior to surgery and week after.

IF I AM USING EYE MEDICATIONS IN MY EYE TO BE OPERATED ON, DO I STOP TAKING THEM?   

Continue all eye medications through the day before your surgery.  Do not use eye medications in the eye to be operated on the day of surgery.  Eye drops for the fellow eye should be continued as usual.

HOW LONG WILL I BE AT THE SURGERY CENTER THE DAY OF MY SURGERY?                                     

Even though your operation itself usually takes less than 20 minutes, you should plan to spend 2 hours at the Surgery Center.  Preparation and post-operative observation and instruction take time.

ON THE DAY OF SURGERY, WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?                     

Wear a loose shirt or a shirt that buttons in front. Do not wear any jewelries.

Immediately after cataract surgery

At the end of the surgical procedure, your doctor may place some antibiotic drops in your eye to prevent infection and administer some anti-inflammatory drops to minimize swelling.

Your doctor may cover your eye with a bandage or shield and ask you to rest for a short time.  The bandage, if used, will be removed on the next day at the doctor’s clinic.

• You may feel a little groggy from the anesthesia.  This is normal and will wear off fairly quickly.
• You may receive prescription medications such as antibiotic or anti-inflammatory eye drops, which you will need to use for the next few weeks.
• You will receive detailed instructions on how to use these medications and care for your eye so it’s important that you have a companion to hear these instructions as well, to help you at home and assist you on your way home.
• Your follow-up appointment(s) will be scheduled.

Then you will be released.  You may find wearing sunglasses or a hat when you leave hospital helpful because your eye could be sensitive to sunlight.

AFTER the Surgery

WHAT CAN I DO WHEN I GO HOME AFTERWARD?                                     Take it easy, rest and don’t plan on doing any important paperwork or making any decisions. You’ll probably feel like taking a nap at some point.

SHOULD THE DROPS STING? 

Ideally, no, but they often do!  The initial discomfort will diminish rapidly after the first day.  The drops will sting momentarily after you have put them in the eye.  After the first day, if it gets worse again please call/text your doctor or the emergency number given to you.

IS IT NORMAL FOR MY EYES TO FEEL SCRATCHY AFTER SURGERY?     

Expect this the first day, diminishing thereafter.  

HOW SOON WILL I SEE AFTER SURGERY?                                                   Vision on the day of surgery is quite variable from one eye to the next, even for the same patient.  It is usually blurry in all patients on and off during the first day. You usually experience your best vision after cataract surgery 2-4 weeks post-operatively.

WILL I NEED GLASSES AFTER SURGERY?                                                  Have your second eye operated first before you go for glasses if needed.  If both eyes need cataract surgery, don’t judge your success until both have healed and your brain has learned to work with both lenses.

WHEN CAN I RETURN TO WORK?                                                               This varies among patients and what type of work they do.  Many patients return to work the following day, although we often recommend the patient to take a day off.  Best to ask the doctor.

HOW SOON CAN I GO TO THE MOUNTAINS OR RIDE IN AN AIRPLANE?     High altitude and air travel pose no problems after cataract or glaucoma surgery.

The day after surgery:

1. Please have someone accompany you, to your check-up.
2. Please bring your eye drops and your card.
3. Instructions will be given to you regarding your medications.

Do's and don'ts after cataract surgery

Do not:

• Try to touch or rub or put pressure on your eye or get anything in your eye, even water, which can increase the chance of infection. 
• No swimming or hot tubs.
• Drive for 24 hours after surgery.
• Do any strenuous activity, especially bending and lifting anything 15 to 20 pounds or more.
• Wear any eye make-up for one week after surgery. Also, avoid any creams, lotions around the operated eye. Lipstick, eyebrow pencil, etc. are OK. Powders and foundations often make their way into the eye, as does eyeliner and mascara and should not be used until the second week. After that makeup is OK.

Do:

• Wash your hands carefully 
• Use your eye drops on the schedule provided by your doctor to avoid post-operative complications. Your carer may be able to help with this. 
• Avoid strenuous activity like running, jumping, etc. and heavy lifting. 
• Wear your protective eye covering while you sleep and avoid sleeping on the side that has been operated on. 
• Use sunglasses or goggles to protect eyes from sunlight and other bright light as eye recovers. 
• Keep eye closed while showering or bathing. Also, avoid swimming for 2 weeks. Keep soap and shampoo out of your eyes. 
• Avoid bending, exercising and similar activities that might stress eye while it is healing.

During the second week

Wearing eye make-up is okay.  There may be some redness, itching, mild discomfort or bruising around the eye.  These sensations will decrease and your vision will improve progressively.

Side effects of cataract surgery are usually temporary. They can include:

• an itchy or sticky eye and blurry vision for a few days after the operation
• your eye may feel gritty for a few days
• your eye may look red for a few days
• a slight ache, which should pass after a few days
• bruising of the eyelid or eye, which will usually heal within a week

Recovering at home 

Take it easy for the 2 or 3 days after the operation.  Continue to use the eye drops that you have been given as instructed.  If you experience more than mild pain or loss of vision, or if your eye starts to go red, contact your doctor for advice.

You should be able to read and watch television almost immediately if you have reading glasses, but your vision may be blurry as your healing eye gets used to its new lens.  

If you have any discharge, use a warm washcloth to wipe it away gently.

Cataract Surgical Techniques

Nakapagpaopera ka na ba sa katarata? O magpapaopera ka pa lang ng iyong katarata? Ano nga ba ang pamamaraan ng pagtanggal ng katarata? 

Basahin at alamin kung ano ang maigi para sa'yo. Dapat ding alamin kung saang paraan dalubhasa ang iyong doktor bago magpaiskedyul ng iyong operasyon. Huwag kalimutang kilalanin ang iyong doktor bago magpaopera dahil siya ang mangangalaga ng iyong paningin bago, habang at pagkatapos ng iyong operasyon. Para magkaroon ng magandang resulta ang iyong operasyon, sundin ang lahat ng payo ni dok. ;)

There are three commonly employed surgical techniques for cataract removal: extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE), phacoemulsification (phaco), and small incision cataract surgery (SICS). ECCE is the traditional method, which involves a standard incision to remove the nucleus of the lens and cortex and insert an IOL. This technique requires removable sutures and a longer recovery period. The complication rate is also higher.

Phaco uses an ultrasound probe is used to fragment the lens, which is aspirated through a small incision. A foldable IOL is insert through the incision, and in most cases, sutures are not necessary. Phaco is the preferred cataract surgical method in developed countries, but large-scale implementation of phaco is challenging in developing countries due to the expense, lack of trained surgeons, and lack of trained technicians to maintain the more technologically advanced equipment. Phaco is more costly, mainly due to the foldable IOL. However, the rapid recovery period of this sutureless method is a cost-savings benefit, as patients can return to work and/or full productivity more quickly than with ECCE. Phaco is not ideal for hard, more mature cataracts, which are more often the case in developed countries and remote, poor communities, where patients tend to wait longer to be operated due to issues of affordability, accessibility and lack of awareness.

SICS is a refined ECCE method, which may be an appropriate manual substitute to phaco in developing countries due to its lower cost, lesser technological requirements, its faster procedure, and comparable qualitative outcomes. Similar to phaco, a small incision and foldable IOL are used. SICS usually does not require sutures and has a faster recovery period than conventional ECCE but costs a fraction of the cost of phaco surgery in developing countries. The average time of a SICS procedure is significantly less than that of phaco, but both procedures have comparable outcomes.

Mula sa pahina ng IAPB on cataracts

cataract surgeries 2011

		adult		child	TOTAL
PROVINCE	Region
ABRA	car	573		1	574
APAYAO	car	81			81
BENGUET	car	611		21	632
IFUGAO	car	63			63
kalinga	car	266			266
mountain	car	313		7	320
			1907
ILOCOS N	1	501			501
ilocos sur	1	437		2	439
LA UNION	1	1096		5	1101
PANGASINAN	1	2238		26	2264
			4272
BATANES	2	0			0
CAGAYAN	2	421			421
ISABELA	2	530		1	531
NUEVA V	2	286			286
QUIRINO	2	44		2	46
			1281
AURORA	3	22			22
BATAAN	3	124			124
BULACAN	3	1291		5	1296
nueva ecija	3	712		1	713
PAMPANGA	3	634			634
TARLAC	3	154			154
ZAMBALES	3	48			48
			2985
ALBAY	5	308		20	328
camarines n	5	38			38
camsur	5	44			44
CATANDUANES	5	131			131
MASBATE	5	98			98
SORSOGON	5	60		6	66
			679
AKLAN	6	14			14
ANTIQUE	6	157			157
CAPIZ	6	36		1	37
GUIMARAS	6	13		2	15
ILOILO	6	339		7	346
NEG OCC	6	504		6	510
			1063
BOHOL	7	423			423
CEBU	7	876			876
neg or	7	224			224
SIQUIJOR	7	9			9
			1532
BILIRAN	8	33			33
LEYTE	8	489			489
Leyte S	8	149			149
Samar E	8	149			149
Samar N	8	77			77
Samar W	8	29			29
			926
zambo isa	9	4			4
zambo dn	9	132			132
ZAMBO DS	9	379			379
zambo sib	9	39			39
			550
BUKIDNON	10	104			104
CAMIGUIN	10	31			31
LANAO DN	10	67			67
MISAMIS OCC	10	221			221
misamis or	10	387		2	389
			810
comval	11	213		2	215
DAVAO DN	11	474		7	481
davao ds	11	1048			1048
DAVAO OR	11	164			164
			1899
COTABATO C	12	140			140
COTABATO N	12	1359			1359
COTABATO S	12	355		1	356
s kudarat	12	201		1	202
SARANGANI	12	87		1	88
			2142
AGUSAN DN	13	200			200
AGUSAN DS	13	68			68
dinagat is	13	41			41
SURIGAO DN	13	94			94
SURIGAO DS	13	283			283
			686
BATANGAS	4-a	330		3	333
CAVITE	4-a	1030		7	1037
LAGUNA	4-a	862		7	869
QUEZON	4-a	426			426
RIZAL	4-a	1125		11	1136
			3773
MARINDUQUE	4-b	26			26
MINDORO OCC	4-b	186			186
mindoro or	4-b	54		2	56
PALAWAN	4-b	32		2	34
ROMBLON	4-b	41			41
			339
BASILAN	armm	11			11
LANAO DS	armm	247			247
MAGUINDANAO	armm	564			564
SULU	armm	221			221
TAWI-TAWI	armm	137			137
			1180
M Manila	ncr	6494		49	6543
			6494
		32522	32518	208
provinces served	80
independent cities	2
Manila / ncr	1

Cataract Surgeries of 2010 by Province

Eye Surgeries done in 2009

Out of 81 provinces and 2 independent cities of the Philippines, there were 2 UNSERVED areas namely:  Aurora and Batanes.  There are also identified UNDERSERVED areas (less than 20 surgeries done the whole year):  Biliran, Camarines Norte, Guimaras, Kalinga, and Sulu.  We rejoice that from 12 identified areas that needed attention in 2008 we have conquered 5 areas.  Despite the major calamities that hit the country last 2009 we are surprised that the output exceeded our expectations.  To wit:

• 42,053 sight saving surgeries were done
• 34,774 were cataract surgeries
• 16,715 were bilateral and
• 34,468 were with IOLs 

Surgeries were done in 382 hospitals and other health care facilities.

• 179 government hospitals
• 169 private hospitals
• 22 clinics
• 5 Rural Health Units
• 7 other health care facilities

With CBM's support and with all the volunteer ophthalmologists who tirelessly help us with our work on Restoring Sight and Changing Lives, we have achieved this.  Thanks to them and may they would never get tired of helping our sisters and brothers have their sight back.

2007 Surgeries

Of the 81 provinces and 17 regions in the Philippines, only Batanes and Marinduque were not covered. A total of:

• 38,690 sight saving surgeries were done
• 33,913 were cataract surgeries
• 15,668 were bilateral and
• 33,236 were with IOLs

Surgeries were done in 405 hospitals.

CBM partners did a total of:

• 19,049 surgeries and mobilized
• 375 residents/ophthalmologists

Cataract Foundation and its partners did a total of:

• 19,641 surgeries and mobilized
• 190 ophthalmologists
  

	Surgeries done in 2006	Surgeries done in 2007
Cataract	37,284	33,913
Glaucoma	240	280
Other major surgeries	1,500	649
Other minor surgeries	7,557	3,848
TOTAL	46,581	38,690

what we have been doing?

Cataract Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CFPI) has been in existence for 16 years and is headed by an experienced trio – the President - Mr. Jack Po, a medical adviser - Dr. Fortunato Eusebio, and the project director and CBM co-worker - Ms. Mavis Campos.

In partnership with cbm International since 1992 and funded via cbm International - Australia through an AusAID block grant since 2000, CFPI has been the flagship program for prevention of blindness – mostly cataract surgeries – among the poorest sectors of the community, whose poverty would otherwise have fated them to remain blind.

During the span of 16 years, a total output of 289,468 cataract surgeries and 82,500 other sight-saving surgeries have been done. In addition, more than 174,553 pairs of spectacles were dispensed.

Strong emphasis has been placed on community approaches to eye work and the agency has been centrally involved in the development of Vision 2020 strategies - a global initiative by WHO for the elimination of avoidable blindness.

The tasks of CFPI include mobilizing the community and creating awareness about cataract, training of health workers, local doctors, and community-based field staff in identification and referral methods. CFPI works in a cost effective manner, enabling it to provide services to a large number of beneficiaries in a country where a large and increasing proportion of the population live in poverty, and where access to medical eye services is limited to those who can afford to pay or are covered by medical insurance. Today, CFPI works with around 400 partner agencies and private ophthalmologists throughout the country covering 81 provinces.

CFPI is responsible for the ordering and disbursement of surgical equipment, eye medicines and surgical consumables to the partner agencies throughout the country. Monitoring and evaluation procedures are in place and conducted periodically by the consultant and staff to ensure quality service delivery. Cost recovery is achieved through sponsorship from service clubs and private individuals and based on the assessment of economic status; patients are encouraged to donate a certain amount as part of their share in the surgery. Private patients are charged for the use of medical equipment such as lasers. Bulk purchasing of consumables reduces cost considerably. These are some of the methods to reduce dependency on foreign funding and an attempt towards sustainability. However, with indigent patients as the main target group, it will be some years before greater local government and community participation, a national insurance scheme, and increase in the national budget of the Department of Health for prevention of blindness will make it possible for CFPI to be completely self-sustaining.

Vision 2020 @ Php20.20

Dear Friends and Benefactors,​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Vision 2020:​ The Right to Sight is a global joint initiative of the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, with an international coalition of professional bodies, eye care institutions, Non Governmental Organisations and corporations. It aims to eliminate avoidable blindness worldwide by the year 2020.
​
In developing countries like ours, 60% of children will die within one year of becoming blind and the remainder will, on average, spend 40 years without sight.​ 90% of blind children receive no schooling and the majority will not grow up to achieve their full potential.​ Thus, blindness in children accounts for nearly 1/3 of the global economic cost of blindness, although it contributes less than 4% of its overall prevalence.

Many of the common causes of blindness are readily treated or prevented: an incredible 75% of blindness is avoidable.​ In children, vigilance and early intervention against blinding conditions is crucial.​

We give priority to childhood blindness as every week about a hundred Filipino children go blind mostly due to poor nutrition, measles, ophthalmia neonatorum, cataract, glaucoma and retinopathy of prematurity/premature birth which are all preventable if treated in time.​ With early detection and treatment we could save a lot of children from losing their sight as well as from disability and poverty.​

Uncorrected refractive errors, which are easily diagnosed and can be corrected with spectacles, are the most important cause of vision impairment in school-age children thus, the Cataract Foundation started with extensive school screening 2 years ago and have found a huge magnitude.​ They have been referred to our partner optometrists and were provided prescription glasses all funded for by the Foundation.

Some startling figures to stir us up:

• ​37 million people worldwide are BLIND and 124 million have low vision
• 1.4 million children of the world are blind
• 75% of BLINDNESS is AVOIDABLE ​– either by prevention or treatment
• every minute a child goes blind
• every 5seconds someone goes needlessly blind
• every week around 100 Filipino children go blind or have serious visual impairment and the children most at risk are those 5 years old and below
• More than 450,000 people in the Philippines are blind; 62% of these cases are due to cataracts.​
• in the Philippines only 2,149 out of a possible 90,000 blind children go to school
  

Together, we can do more!​ Give Sight Now.​ For the child​’s name is TODAY!​

Donate P20.20 towards restoring sight for ONE child. You may wish to sponsor more than one child.

It is a lifeline for a child with poor vision.​ Your own child​’s P202.0 can change another child​’s life.​ Imagine what amazing miracles can happen by sharing a little of what you have.

Save a child from a lifetime of blindness!

Deposit your gift to our account:

CATARACT FOUNDATION PHILIPPINES, INC.
RIZAL COMMERCIAL BANKING CORPORATION
Lacson Branch, Bacolod City
Savings Account (PESO)
Account Number: 1-470-00218-9

Or send it to:

CATARACT FOUNDATION PHILIPPINES, INC.
9 Medical Lane, 21st Street Extension
6100 Bacolod City
PHILIPPINES
​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​


MAVIS CAMPOS
Program Manager

we began with one small step

In 1979, a volunteer ophthalmologist from Negros Occidental, Dr. Fortunato Eusebio, went to Gujarat, India with Rotary International to work in surgical eye camps.​ He was so inspired that he shared the idea with his friends in the Rotary Club of Bacolod North, RI District 3850 of doing volume cataract surgery not eye camp style but in a hospital.​ He convinced them to start a project called ​“Sight Savers​” with the aim of doing 50-60 cataract surgeries in one year.​ Each year the club raised funds specifically for this project.​ The patients were accommodated in school classrooms, which were converted to dormitories during vacation and ferried to the hospital for surgery.​ This involved the services of many club members, volunteers, and wives of the Rotarians, overseeing the meals and transportation of the patients and their ​‘watchers​’.​ There was great camaraderie and celebration but it was not cost-effective and the project was only reaching out to a maximum of 60 patients per year because of fund constraints of the Rotary Club.​

Then something great happened.​ ​“Old men dream dreams and young men see visions​”.​ In 1992, Dr. Fortunato Eusebio and Jack Po, with the same mission and vision to reach out to many more cataract patients got together a group of like-minded individuals and formed the Cataract Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CFPI).​ Jack Po at that time was anxious to expand the prevention of blindness program to reach out to more than just 50 beneficiaries but the club did not have the appropriate level of resources to respond.​ He became the president up to the present.​

Negotiations were made with Riverside Medical Center, the best private hospital in Negros, whereby indigent patients could have their cataract surgeries at an affordable cost.​ The surgical supplies and hospital bills were funded by the Foundation.

The number of referrals and surgeries increased dramatically that in the first two years almost a thousand cataract surgeries for poor patients were done per year.​ Health professionals, community workers of NGOs and village health workers were trained to identify cataract and motivate patients to submit for surgery.​ Initially, the lone surgeon was Dr. Fortunato Eusebio (at this time 2 of his children, Jay and Cristina are in the team).​ ​ It was most rewarding to see vision being restored to so many poor people.​ By working together, ordinary people (like non-medical staff, field workers and patients who had successful surgery and their families) were responsible for the high referrals.

In 1995 the Regional Director of Christoffel Blindenmission (cbm) saw the potential of Cataract Foundation becoming a model project and recommended partnership. CBM recognized the excellent efforts and surgical skills of Dr. Eusebio and a very committed Board and decided to make CFPI a center for learning, teaching, inspiring and motivating other young ophthalmologists and other non-government organisations. CFPI took on the role of managing funds, equipment, medicines and surgical supplies, and coordinating the eye work nationwide.

During the span of 13 years, CFPI has this total output:

• 218,000 cataract surgeries

• 69,000 other sight-saving surgeries

• 151,000 pairs of spectacles were dispensed

One of the notable features which the Foundation has done was to train ophthalmologists on Small Incision Sutureless Cataract Surgeries (SISCS), a cost effective alternative to the high-tech very expensive phaco and harnessed private ophthalmologists to volunteer their services for indigent patients with strong emphasis on community approaches to eye work.

The Foundation has been centrally involved in the development of Vision 2020 strategies - a global initiative by WHO for the elimination of avoidable blindness. The tasks of CFPI include mobilizing the community and creating awareness about cataract, training of health workers, rural health physicians, and community-based field staff of non government agencies in identification and referral methods.

CFPI initiated a noble idea called Munting Doktor or Little Eye Doctor project. Grades 5 and 6 pupils (11 and 12 year olds) were trained in a simple way to check the eyes of their grand parents and elderly neighbors. When identified, the children would either refer their ‘patients’ to a health center or a community eye worker will go to the school to do a final screening and refer the patients for surgery.

The 3 eye diseases identified by Vision 2020 that are significant in the Philippines as preventable and curable are cataract, errors of refraction, and childhood blindness. Cataract remains the main thrust of the program but we are also conscious of the growing need to address childhood blindness and errors of refraction. We are working closely with pediatric ophthalmologists or pediatric inclined ophthalmologists to create awareness among family physicians, pediatricians and to improve the early identification and referral of children with eye problems. We have mobilized the society of optometrists in some provinces to help with the screening of students 12-18 years old.

CFPI works in a cost effective manner, enabling it to provide services to a large number of beneficiaries in a country where a large and increasing proportion of the population live in poverty, and where access to medical eye services is limited to those who can afford to pay or are covered by medical insurance. Today, CFPI works with more than 20 other non-government organizations, 30 government ophthalmologists, and around 400 partner agencies and private ophthalmologists covering in 79 provinces.

Monitoring and evaluation procedures are in place and conducted periodically by the consultant and staff to ensure quality service delivery. Cost recovery is achieved through sponsorship from service clubs and private individuals and donations. Bulk purchasing of consumables reduces cost considerably. These are some of the methods to reduce dependency on foreign funding and an attempt towards sustainability. However, with indigent patients as the main target group, and the ever growing economic crisis it will be some years before greater local government and community participation, a national insurance scheme and increase in the national budget of the Department of Health for prevention of blindness will make it possible for CFPI to be completely self-sustaining.

Confucius once said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Cataract Foundation took that first step 14 years ago. With dedication of purpose and commitment to serve, we have been able to make a paradigm shift in the minds and hearts of many young ophthalmologists to journey with us in Restoring Sight and Transforming Lives to thousands of Filipinos.