The Seva Foundation is an American non-profit and international health organization with the aim of treating blindness around the world. Founded in 1978, the organization was started by Govindappa Venkataswamy, Nicole Grasset, Wavy Gravy, Ram Dass, and Dr. Larry Brilliant. In 2013 alone, Seva’s Sight Program was reported to have provided eye care services to one million individuals around the globe. Since its inception, the organization has worked in various parts of the world, active in 14 countries today with direct services in Cambodia, Nepal, and Tibet. Seva’s work is also supported by affiliates like the Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology in Tanzania and the Vizualiza in Guatemala.

According to the World Health Organization, there are 39 million blind people in the world and 246 million more who are suffering with low vision, as of October 2013. Majority of these people, about 80%, could easily see again if only they had access to eye care. Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness in the world, easily removed with surgery that will take no more than 15 minutes to do. The Seva Foundation steps in by reducing the price of cataract surgery to just $50 with the help of high-quality intraocular lenses created with the assistance of Aurolab, Aravind Eye Hospital’s manufacturing division.

The Seva Foundation takes its name from a sanskrit word that means “service to others,” quite fitting given the aim of the organization. Seva defines its vision to be “a world of healthy and self-reliant communities”, with a mission “to prevent blindness and restore sight worldwide.” The organization aims to achieve its goals through programs designed to boost the capacity of underserved communities by providing comprehensive and high-quality eye care that everyone in a community can access.