With great sadness, we share news that Eyesight International founder Paul Joseph Dubord, MD, FRCSC, OC, passed away Monday, September 5, in Vancouver following a short, intense battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71.

Dr. Dubord had a vision: to restore sight to the millions of people who go blind simply because they can’t get the care they need. He was affiliated with the University of British Columbia as a corneal transplantation, external disease sub-specialist (eye surgeon) with a special interest in eye banking since 1977, and subsequently became professor emeritus. He founded and established the Eye Bank of British Columbia in 1982.

In 1989, Dr. Dubord was invited to work with the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India, on corneal transplantation and eye banking. Eyesight International got its start in 1992, with a significant donation from a patient who wanted to support Dr. Dubord’s work in lower- and middle-income countries.

ESI joined forces with the LV Prasad Eye Institute, a successful partnership that continues to train hundreds of eye surgeons and treat patients from all over the world. It also helped develop the EyeBank at LV Prasad to become the largest in lower- and middle-income countries, with over 5,000 transplants per year. Along with our supporters and those who have been cured of blindness, these surgeons have been ensuring Dr. Dubord’s vision of restoring sight to the needlessly blind continues to expand worldwide.

More than anything, Dr. Dubord wanted to see Eyesight International grow. With your help, we are confident that our partnership with the LV Prasad Eye Institute and our capable leadership will continue to help restore sight to needlessly blind people worldwide.

To keep Dr. Dubord’s vision and memory alive, please consider donating to Eyesight International.

Learn more about Dr. Paul Dubord