About

WSF feels strongly that education is one of the best ways of improving care on a long term basis.

The World Sight Foundation (WSF) was established in 2012 by Anthony Chignell MBE FRCS FRCOphth after many years of ophthalmic work.

His interest in “developing world” ophthalmology arose during his years as Order Hospitaller of the St. John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital. Of the various models of ophthalmic aid currently available WSF feels strongly that education is one of the best ways of improving care on a long term basis. Thus, rather than being involved with the direct provision of services, we support the teaching and training of those involved with eye care. We consist of a small group of highly motivated volunteers with very limited administrative costs, enabling donations to be used for what they are intended. Decisions can be made quickly and we are close to the projects we partner. Within the WSF we have a group of highly respected advisers both from the UK and the international community.

WSF feels strongly that education is one of the best ways of improving care on a long term basis.

Who we are

Trustees of the World Sight Foundation

is Emeritus Consultant Ophthalmologist to St.Thomas’ Hospital, London. He has served on a number of sight related charities the most recent of which was as Hospitaller of the Order of St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.

is an independent documentary film producer with Dog Star Films having produced over 20 films. She was part of the 2013 Oscar-winning production team behind Searching for Sugar Man and Listen to Me Marlon, Citizen K and The Wonderful: Stories from the Space Station.

was the Head of ESG at Genesis Investment Management, LLP, an investment management firm specialising in emerging markets. She is a US trained lawyer and has previously worked at a leading New York law firm.

is an ophthalmologist with a Masters degree in epidemiology who has worked at the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH) since 1990. She has a national and international reputation for her work in ophthalmic public health in developing countries with particular expertise in paediatric ophthalmology.

is an honorary consultant ophthalmologist at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. He was the former founding head of the School of Ophthalmology in the Oxford region and a member of council of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Principal author of a well-known textbook, Ophthalmology Lecture Notes. He has considerable experience in teaching medical students and trainee doctors both at home and abroad.

is emeritus consultant ophthalmologist to University College London Hospitals and emeritus senior lecturer in surgery, University College London. He has had considerable experience working in India.

Group Chief Executive Officer at Strategy International Ltd. An experienced and highly innovative business leader with an impressive record of successfully growing businesses, both organically and through the creation of high impact marketing, sales and corporate strategies.

Advisers to the World Sight Foundation

Mrs Philippa Saunders OBE is a Consultant Advisor. She has worked for Oxfam, DFID, Save the Children Fund and Christian Aid. Her expertise is in health policies, WHO, and all aspects of medicines to include availability, quality and use.

Miss Wendy Franks FRCS FRCOphth has retired as Consultant Ophthalmologist and Director of the Glaucoma Service at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. She was co-chair of UK Vision 2020 primary eye care group and member of the NICE Glaucoma guideline development Group.

Mrs Jane Tapley was Head Orthoptist at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading. Her expertise is in developing, teaching and organising orthoptic programmes and services nationally and internationally. She has been external examiner for undergraduate and postgraduate orthoptic degrees at the University of Sheffield and the University of Liverpool and is currently an officer of the International Orthoptic Association.

David Blunkett was awarded a peerage in the dissolution Honours List in 2015, taking the title of Lord Blunkett, of Brightside and Hillsborough in the City of Sheffield.  He was Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough 1987-2015, and a member of Tony Blair’s Cabinet for eight years from 1997.  He served as Education and Employment Secretary, Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. He is currently a Professor of Politics in Practice at the University of Sheffield, Chair of the Board of the University of Law and involved in a range of voluntary and charitable organisations locally and nationally.

Ms Michele Acton is the current Principal at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. Prior to this she was Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Medicine since 2019. Ahead of this she spent 12 years as the Chief Executive of Fight for Sight and was the Co-Chair of the Vision 2020 UK Eye Research Committee. Before joining the charitable sector, she had a 15 year career in investment banking advising companies on mergers and acquisitions and raising capital.

Professor David Wong FRCP FRCS FRCOphth was until lately the Director of the Eye Institute and Albert Bing-Ching Young Professor of Ophthalmology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong. He is Emeritus Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Royal Liverpool Hospital in the UK. He has held a number of prestigious International positions and is a leading expert on retinal disease.

Hong Woon BA MRCP FRCS Ed FRCOphth Emeritus Consultant Ophthalmologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals in the UK. He has a special and continuing interest in Physics and Maths.

Professor John Marshall MBE PhD DSc FRCPath FRCOphth Emeritus Professor at UCH and King’s College London. He has an international reputation for ophthalmic research and development for which he has received many awards.

Seema Verma MD FRCOphth is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and the Ophthalmology Clinical Lead for South East London Acute Provider Collaborative.

Peter Holland is the Chief Executive of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). He joined IAPB from OPM Group, a UK-based research and engagement consultancy, where he was Chief Executive. Previous to this he led strategy at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Associate Prof Bill Glasson OA, FRANZCO, FRACS, FRCOphth is an ophthalmologist in Brisbane. He is a former Federal President of the Australian Medical Association and former President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. He provides outreach services to the Australian indigenous population as well as providing ophthalmic services in East Timor. He is a consultant Ophthalmologist to the Australian Armed Forces and holds the rank of Lt. Colonel.

Professor GVS Murthy is a public health physician who has specialized in public health eye care and disability. He is a epidemiologist of 40 years’ experience with a national and international reputation.

Dr Sucheta Kulkarni MSc DNB DOMS MB BS is a Senior Ophthalmologist & Public Health Researcher. She is the Medical Director at the H.V. Desai Eye Hospital in Pune, Maharashtra. She has particular expertise in retina and paediatric ophthalmology.

How we work

The Teaching Courses

Our courses are aimed at primary eye care practitioners and are either onsite, or are online and distant. In both types the courses are conducted by mainly UK based ophthalmic experts. Our aim is to contribute to the saving of vision across the globe, by giving primary care practitioners the skills and knowledge they need to provide critical frontline ophthalmic services in their communities, and to prevent unnecessary loss of sight in both adults and children. Their patients, especially those in rural areas, are usually the poorest and most in need. They are the first professional to see a patient and their role is vital in inputting the patient on the correct diagnostic and management path.

On-Site Courses

Selection of places to support is critical to avoid wastage of time and money and once started we intend support to be on a long-term basis.These courses are always preceded by a WSF site visit, and reliable local leadership is essential. There is much organisation necessary and this can only be done by dedicated local staff.At the present time our on-site courses aimed at primary eye care practitioners are conducted in India (at the HV Desai Hospital in Pune, Maharashtra) and Africa (at theMcCord Eye Hospital in Durban).

Onsite course content

The course content is reactive to local need and local ophthalmic professionals are often recruited to help the teaching. These courses, usually lasting three days, are a mixture of specially constructed and highly interactive lecturing and clinical skilling sessions. The courses concentrate on increasing the knowledge and clinical skill of attendees who often work in poorly equipped clinics. Most eye conditions (especially those that need referral) in both adults and children can be recognised by good history taking and simple examination. Attendees are particularly instructed in the examination of children -an element of ophthalmic practice which is often poorly taught. The content of the courses is mainly of a general nature but at times concentrates on particular ophthalmic problems. (e.g. the rising prevalence of diabetes in the world and the threat to vision).

Distance Learning Courses

Online distance learning courses have been popular in several countries (Bangladesh ,Taiwan, India, Kenya, Tanzania S.Africa and Gaza,). They are used either to reach places difficult to access or to reach isolated workers.The courses consist of specially prepared on -line lectures from mainly UK teachers and can last between 1-3 days.

‘The benefit of your programme to our clinical services is immense, and the impact on those they treat is immeasurable’

‘World Sight Foundation has been a blessing and an invaluable partner to McCord Provincial Eye
Hospital and the surrounding KwaZulu Natal landscape. Over the last eight years your organisation
has revitalised eye care at the primary level and has empowered over 200 primary care nurses with
basic eye skills essential to their everyday practice.’

Dr Neville Chelin
Medical Manager
McCord Provincial Eye Hospital
GROWING KWAZULU-NATAL TOGETHER

We really look forward to hosting many more such useful courses in the future

“At the outset, we wholeheartedly express our gratitude and thanks to WSF especially to your good self for conducting such a wonderful 4-day comprehensive ophthalmic teaching & refresher courses at PVRI for the mid-level ophthalmic personnel (MLOPs) working and practising in both public and private health sectors of Telangana state India.

The course was very interactive and refreshing to all the participants and has been very impactful, which I am sure will reflect and bring about tangible impact in the dispensation of eye care services by these participants post this training in their respective areas. Such short refresher courses are much needed for developing countries like India where the quality and effectiveness of delivery of health services is not uniform across such vast geography.
We really look forward to hosting many more such useful courses in the future in the best interest of people at large. Once again thank you very much for all your best efforts.”

R. Govind Hari
Chairman PVRI

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