Preventing Vision Loss from Diabetic Retinopathy in Bangladesh

Eyecare professional pointing at retina scan on computer screen while female patient in red shawl sits nearby.Nasima Khatun’s vision had been deteriorating for years. It had gotten so bad she was unable to recognize the faces of people she knew from a distance. Then one morning, the vision in her right eye suddenly became obscured by what looked like a red cloud.[...]

Clear Vision Brings True Potential into Focus

Focused young student wearing glasses listens carefully during class discussion.Living with childhood cataracts meant that 10-year-old Ulrich Amassoga had never experienced clear vision before. He had difficulty in school and dealt with bullying from classmates because of his condition.  Two years ago, Helen Keller began providing[...]

Building Brighter Futures by Saving Sight

Schoolgirl wearing eyeglasses in a blue uniform stands outside a rustic school building in a rural areaBy the time she was six years old, Treasure Winner Mafau Azemafack’s family had already fled violence three times. Originally from Fontem in Cameroon’s South West region, Treasure Winner, her parents, and three siblings eventually settled on Dschang,[...]

Helping People See True Potential

Graphic showing a girl in a yellow dress standing confidently on a white pedestal with the phrase 'she can thrive' in bold letters, symbolizing empowerment and success.Impaired vision can cause long-lasting challenges for children and adults throughout their lives. In childhood, poor vision will make it more difficult for a student to fully engage in the classroom and with her peers, putting her education at risk. This can[...]

Trachoma Eliminated as a Public Health Problem in Mali

Eyecare professional examining woman's eye for trachoma in outdoor rural setting.The World Health Organization announced the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Mali.  Though not the first country to eliminate trachoma, this milestone is particularly extraordinary due to the scale of the disease. A 1996 survey found[...]

From Vitamin A Skeptic to True Believer 

Family portrait of father, mother, and young boy sitting outside with a plain wall in the background.Four-year-old Abdoul Aziz Coulibaly was always sick, until his family discovered vitamin A. Abdoul is the youngest of four siblings living with their parents in a small village called Massala in south-central Mali. Though the family has limited financial[...]

Kindergartener’s worldview changes thanks to new eyeglasses 

Close up of hands holding a pair of prescription eyeglasses above a tray filled with various frames.When Prince, a new kindergarten student, entered P.S. 152 in Brooklyn, New York, he spoke Creole exclusively.   He wasn’t able to identify numbers, letters, or count past four. Our teachers were trying absolutely everything they could. Whitney[...]

Meet Ajanie: Our one millionth New York City vision student

Young woman wearing mask monitors eye exam of young boy.Halloween this year was a day for extra celebration at the Academy for College Preparation and Career Exploration in Brooklyn, New York. A short assembly in the morning announced a milestone moment for Helen Keller Intl – the one millionth New York City[...]