The Fiat Lux Foundation's mission is to prevent and reverse blindness in the developing world. We partner with local ophthalmologists to build sustainable eye treatment centers in underserved areas. Since 2010, we have been a leader in the fight to eradicate curable blindness from the developing world.
Our Guiding Principles
Sustainability In the fight against blindness, only sustainable solutions bring meaningful and lasting results. Models that depend on foreign subsidies for free care, while well-intentioned, create a cycle of dependency. Likewise, organizations that fly teams of visiting western doctors in and out of developing countries without leaving behind any infrastructure or local know-how can impede development. We offer a fresh approach: provide seed funding for physician-entrepreneurs and empower them to build sustainable and financially self-sufficient eye treatment centers that do not rely on perpetual outside support.
Local Control Local problems are best solved by local personnel. That is why we we provide our physician-partners full control over day-to-day operations. We offer business advice and medical guidance, but we understand that the local physician must take ownership of the project in order to gain the full support of the community.
Quality Care Outcomes matter. From state-of-the-art examination equipment, to ophthalmic lasers, to the most up-to-date surgical instruments, our physician-partners have all the tools they need to succeed. The long-term viability of our eye centers depends on our physicians and staff delivering results that are comparable to those found in first world settings. That is why we insist that our partners meticulously track and report their results, both in the clinic and in the operating room.
Accessibility We go where we are needed most. Many developing countries have fewer than one eye surgeon per million people. We look for locations where eye care is scarce or nonexistent, focusing on rural areas. We provide outreach buses and overnight accommodations for patients who live in remote villages. Our tiered fee scale ensures that no patient is denied care, regardless of ability to pay.
“In the third world, a blind person is referred to as ‘a mouth without hands’. He is detrimental to his family and to the whole village. But all he needs is a 10-minute operation. People don’t realize that the surgery is available, or that they can afford it because it’s free. We have to sell them first on the need.”