HISTORY AND MISSION
HISTORY, MISSION AND VISION
THE ORIGINS
Our passion for vision and eye health runs in the family and is generational and deeply personal. My name is Dr. Sanjiv Desai and Tarabai Desai Eye Hospital was named after my grandmother, who was blind in one eye. For over 50 years, we are serving thousands of people in the remotest regions.
FOUNDED IN
1980
My father's dream was to become an eye doctor and cure my grandmother's blindness but she passed away when was still in his teens. It made my father even more determined to ensure no one has to live with treatable blindness. He pursued his his dream of providing affordable, quality eye care to Indian communities bringing free camp clinics to remote regions on weekends and offering free services all throughout his retirement. He was so committed to this goal that he would travel by bullock cart or camel to reach remote destinations in need of his services.
On 19 May 1986, our hospital opened its doors. By 1988 we were able to offer ocular microsurgery, with intraocular lens implants beginning in 1991. From here, we were able to offer free lens implants in eye camps and retinal laser treatment. In 1998 we became the first in India to employ state-of-the-art machinery for Phacoemulsification in free eye camps. Today we offer corneal grafting, implantable contact lens surgery, glaucoma drainage shunts, myopia control treatment, and many other crucial vision services.
MISSION and vision
Today, we strive to keep my father's dream alive by offering affordable eye care at its best. Any patient who walks in our door for treatment or surgery will receive quality services at 1/3 to 1/2 of the commercial market rate. Those who can't afford, receive treatment free of charge. In many cases, we also provide free meals for patients who are traveling from far to make it easier for them to seek care. All eye camp patients receive free education and treatment. In fact, about 70% of our services are free of charge to the patient.
To keep this mission going and to continue to provide these affordable services, we are constantly seeking partnerships with compassionate partners and donors like you.
With help from people like you, we envision an India where no one has to live with curable blindness. We hope for a future in which India no longer leads the world in blindness and where remote communities can thrive.
Awards
We are honored and humbled by the love and recognition we have received over the years.
1980: T.C.Mehta Gold Medal for Community Services (Eye Care) in Rotary International District.
1985-86: District Award For Community Service, District Administration, Jodhpur
1993: National Award, Sir Sriram Award For Research in Community Ophthalmology, National Academy of Medical Sciences [NAMS], New Delhi
2000: Lions Award In recognition of Distinguished services provided for Humanity [Eye Camps].
2015: Tano Prize, APAO, China
2016: Marwar Health Achievers Award , Times of India Group
2019: National Award : ACOIN Aleem Choudhary Award, for community ophthalmology
2019: Mahaveer International Award, Medical Camps, New Delhi
2020: Volk Visionary Award 2020, Volk Optical, USA,
2020: SEEI International Humanitarian Award, USA,
2021: Lions International Appreciation Award, USA, 2021.
DATA
Vision loss impacts individuals, families, and communities. Here's how:
- 90% of global blindness cases are preventable.
- 93% of all blindness in India is preventable or curable.
- Major causes of blindness in India include cataracts and glaucoma.
- Vision loss impacts people from infancy through adulthood.
- 1/5 of the world's blind children live in India.
- Globally, an estimated 22.6 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were caused by blindness and vision loss (BVL) in 2019 an increase of 20.3% from 2010.
Personal IMPACT
- Children with blindness tend to experience delays in motor and language development and face struggles with cognitive development.
- Blindness can significantly impact academic achievement levels.
- Adults with blindness are less likely to be employed and make less money.
- Vision loss can result in social isolation, high risk of injuries, depression, and anxiety.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
- Blindness results in tremendous financial burdens to families, communities, and the world.
- Lifelong challenges increase the likelihood that blind individuals remain underpaid or unemployed, resulting in personal hardship and harming the local economy.
- The global costs associated with productivity loss tied to blindness exceed $290 billion USD.
NEWS & EVENTS
Stay Informed
News and Events
State of the Art Care
quality matters Tarabai Desai Eye Hospital is the regional centre for excellence in eye care for Western Rajasthan. We have the latest machines, highly-trained doctors and paramedical staff, and offer […]
News and Events
The National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey 2015-2019
Blindness was higher among illiterates (3.23%) compared to literate population. Blindness was more prevalent in the rural population as compared to urban population. 2.14% vs 1.80%
News and Events
 The Link Between Blindness and Poverty
There are 9.3 million visually impaired and 2,70,000 blind children in India, of which 75% cases are treatable,
News and Events
Free Eye Camp: Timdee
We organized a free eyecamp at a very small village called Timdee which is about 75 kilometers west of Jodhpur. It was very historic because this was the first time in living memory of the local residents that a medical camp was organized in this village.
News and Events
FREE EYE CAMPS VILLAGES KANODIA & MOKHERI
A total of 361 patients were treated in the camps and a total of 37 free eye surgeries were performed.
News and Events
Partnership with SEE International
Collaborations like these are part of our extraordinary efforts to eliminate preventable blindness in underserved communities; Tarabai Eyecare is so proud to be longtime partners SEE International.
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HELP US
Every amount counts. For $50 you can support 2 life-altering eye surgeries.
Copyright © 2023 TARABAI EYECARE. All Rights Reserved. Tarabai Eyecare USA is a 501 (c)(3) registered non-profit organization and all donations are tax exempt in the USA.