About
IT STARTS WITH A CHAMPION
Eyesight International was founded in 1994 by Dr. Paul J Dubord, supported by a significant donation from a grateful patient — a champion — who had undergone corneal transplantation. This champion also recognized that the profound need for corneal transplantation in lower- and middle-income countries was not being met.
OUR COLLABORATION
A SHARED VISION
In 1989, the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India, invited Dr. Dubord to work in eye banking and corneal transplantation. ESI and the LVPEI continue to work together.
WORLD EFFORT
FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL
Throughout its history, ESI has focused on corneal transplantation, eye banking and education of health care professionals. Momentum to cure unnecessary blindness is building, with similar efforts in Japan, China, Singapore, Sri Lanka and India. ESI is a non-profit, capacity-building charity focused on access to quality care for all in need, and to local self-sustainability.
THE MAN BEHIND ESI’s VISION
Dr. Paul J. Dubord,
1951-2022
Dr. Paul J. Dubord passed away Monday, September 5, 2022, in Vancouver following a short, intense battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71. He was a renowned corneal surgeon, active member of the ophthalmology community and world leader in international eye banking and corneal transplantation. He worked in Canada, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Africa, South America, Europe and especially in India to improve access to quality corneal transplants.
Dr. Dubord was a professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Ophthalmology and a board member of the Branch of International Surgery at UBC. He was active in the Eye Bank Association of America, where he held various leadership positions, including service on its medical advisory board since 1992. He also worked on expert panels of the Canadian Standards Association and the World Health Organization to develop standards for tissue transplantation.
In 1993, Health Canada appointed Dr. Dubord to an expert working group to address cell tissue and organ transplantation in response to the HIV and hepatitis C spread associated with blood banking. The committee and a subsequent Canadian Standards Association group went on to generate the most comprehensive set of medical standards for cell tissue and organ donation worldwide.
Dr. Dubord founded ESI in 1994, after a significant donation from a generous patient who wanted to support the work to restore sight in lower- and middle-income countries. (He had previously worked in India at the invitation of the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, whose partnership with ESI continues to this day.)
In recognition of his contributions to ophthalmology and for his tireless humanitarian work on the international stage, Dr. Dubord was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada.
More than anything, Dr. Dubord wanted his vision of bringing sight to people around the world to continue and grow. We are confident that — with your help — our partnership with the LV Prasad Eye Institute partnership and our current capable leadership will help realize Dr. Dubord’s vision of restoring sight to millions of people worldwide. Please join us in keeping his vision in sight.
WHERE WE ARE
ESI IN THE WORLD
Giving Hope and Vision to the Needlessly Blind
The Great Achievements
5000+ transplants
ESI and the LVPEI have achieved milestones far beyond our expectations. This includes developing the largest eye bank in lower and middle-income countries; providing more than 5000 corneas across India each year. As well we have trained more fellows (qualified eye surgeons) in corneal transplantation than any other healthcare organization in the world ( more than 350).
The great Expansion
Become a Champion
ESI plans to expand its programs to other parts of the LMIC where the needs are dramatic with millions of needlessly corneal blind that have no access to corneal transplantation. Become a champion and an advocate of ESI by sharing this organization’s goals and achievements with your family and friends. Furthermore, you may donate directly to our programs.
YOU CAN HELP TOO
Help us help the blind
ESI plans to expand its programs to other parts of the LMIC where the needs are dramatic with millions of needlessly corneal blind that have no access to corneal transplantation. Become a champion and an advocate of ESI by sharing this organization’s goals and achievements with your family and friends. Furthermore, you may donate directly to our programs.
WATCH VIDEO
ABOUT ESI’s HISTORY
CONTACT US
GOT QUESTIONS?
CONTACT & REFERENCE
esi@eyesightint.org
Registered Canadian Charity
No: 892923848RR0001
SOCIAL
YouTube
LINKS
Privacy Policy
Dr. Paul J. Dubord
