Eye Care

We are passionate about ending preventable blindness by training eye care specialists to provide high-quality eye care in Afghanistan.

Since 1966, IAM’s National Organisation for Ophthalmic Rehabilitation (NOOR) has been improving eye care services in Afghanistan, enabling more people to access affordable, high-quality eye care.

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Why eye care?

Losing your eyesight completely changes your life. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1.5 million people in Afghanistan are visually impaired and 400,000 people are blind. WHO also estimates that the vast majority of this blindness (80%) could be prevented.

Through NOOR, people who thought they were permanently blind are getting their sight back.

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What do we do?

Training

Our primary goal is to increase the skills and capacity of eye care professionals across Afghanistan – providing well-trained eye care specialists to serve the country’s people. Through the NOOR Eye Care Training Centre, we run training programmes for ophthalmologists and ophthalmic technicians.

Service delivery

For more than 50 years, we have been partnering with the Government of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to support eye care facilities across the country.

NOOR runs three referral hospitals: the NOOR Eye Care Training Centre in Kabul, Mazar Ophthalmic Centre, and Kandahar NOOR Eye Hospital. We also provide logistical and financial oversight to the MoPH’s Central Polyclinic and Herat Ophthalmic Centre (both originally founded by IAM).

In 2017, NOOR also established eight new Vision Centres, enabling people in remote areas of Afghanistan to access eye care in their own communities for the first time.

Production of eye care products

NOOR is also a producer of a variety of quality eye care products, and has become known as a trusted brand throughout Afghanistan.

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What difference is IAM eye care work making?

The blind see

Abdul* lost one of his eyes 30 years ago, and had barely any vision left due to a mature cataract in his remaining eye. When he came to Kandahar NOOR Eye Hospital, the doctor identified the problem and referred him for cataract surgery.

“I was very nervous and was thinking I might lose my one remaining eye,” Abdul says. But, knowing it was his only chance at restoring his vision, Abdul agreed to the surgery.

“The following morning, the ward nurse removed the patch from my eye, and what a difference it made! I could see clearly,” he says.

“I didn’t believe that a time would come when I would be able to see everything clearer and brighter.”

*name changed

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Read more about the amazing difference IAM’s eye care work is making to people’s lives by clicking on the stories below.

Inspired by our work? Give now to help the people of Afghanistan.