The work of a charity that helps to set up eye hospitals and provide eye care to the those in developing countries was the topic of a talk given to the Rotary Club of Ely.

John Miles spoke to the club at Ely Bowling Club about Global Sight Solutions on Thursday June 20.

This charity was founded in 1994 and, with the support of Rotary and other grants, has supporting people living in India, Uganda, Pakistan, Bangladesh, The Lebanon and Nigeria.

Soon, it is planned to help those in Ghana, Egypt and the Phillipines.

The cause of blindness is related to poor living conditions and poor diet. Work is being done to improve these especially in the areas of education, and provision of clean water and good sanitation.

The project provides training for eye surgeons, treatment of glaucoma, retinal detachments, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts as well as supplying equipment such as microscopes, lasers, eye buses, and transport which enables outreach eye assessment to be undertaken.

The project is called 'the avoidable blindness programme'. John and fellow Rotarian Fiona Miles are trustees of this charity and visit developing countries to encourage the setting up of permanent eye hospitals in order to to help some of the 650 million people in need of eye care but who cannot afford it themselves.

There is a system of grants that can increase any donations considerably and a £5 donation covers the cost of a cataract operation.

Global Sight Solutions used to be called The Guildford Rotary Eye Project and donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/guildfordeyeproject.

More ambassadors and volunteers are needed, so, regardless of whether you are a Rotarian or not, if you think you can assist please contact John Miles on john.miles13@btinternet.com.

More information is also available at www.globalsightsolutions.org

Newcomers to the Rotary Club of Ely are welcome.

For more information, contact https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=467 or visit Rotary Club of Ely, Cambridgeshire on Facebook.