A typical surgical clinic usually last for 5 days, Monday - Friday.

Ophthalmologist… Yes! Board certified ophthalmologists (US and foreign equivalent) who are in active practice are always being recruited! Become an affiliate to join SEE today.

Allied Health… Yes! Registered Nurses with ophthalmic experience, Certified Ophthalmic Technicians, Surgical Technicians, Equipment Technicians.
Our suggestion to Allied Health who contact with a desire to participate is to contact the ophthalmologist you work with currently or one whom you have worked with and see if as a team you can take part on a SEE expedition. We also recommend this as you are already familiar with working with one another and this allows the clinic to move more smoothly. 

You can also register as SEE Allied Health and we will keep your information on file in the event that there is a need.

Ophthalmology Resident… SEE certainly encourages your interest in international ophthalmology. Any residents who participate on a SEE expedition must be a part of a partnering Residency Program approved by SEE.

Currently, SEE has a residency program with George Washington University and SEE’s Medical Advisory Board may be interested in including other residency programs. If it is something your Resident Director may be interested in, please contact us. Otherwise, you can become a Resident Affiliate to join SEE’s network of volunteer ophthalmologists and prepare to participate in an expedition when you are ABO certified.

Medical Student… As SEE International’s main focus is surgical, we generally do not organize medical students. Our teams are quite small; around one to six team members comprised of ophthalmologists and allied health to allow them to be easily accommodated by our host sites.

Non-Medical Volunteer… As SEE International’s main focus is surgical, we generally do not organize non-medical volunteers. Our teams are quite small; generally one to six team members comprised of ophthalmologists and allied health to allow them to be easily accommodated by our host sites.

Expedition Sponsor… It is possible that Expedition Sponsors may participate in clinics at approved locations. If you are interested in sponsoring a SEE expedition, please contact us!

All SEE International expeditions meet the following criteria:

1. The site is located in a developing country
2. There is an identified need for sight-restoration in low-income individuals in the area
3. A local ophthalmologist agrees to host the clinic
4. The Ministry of Health or other health authority provides a letter of invitation for the team

All volunteers are responsible for their own travel expenses such as airfare, food, accommodations, immunizations, excess baggage, and any passport or visa fees. Generally the host provides in country transportation, and may provide accommodations.

Most of our surgical supplies are generously donated by our corporate partners. There are items, such as gloves, surgical/prep packs, drapes and some medications, which SEE International must purchase for each expedition. If you are interested in sponsoring some of these items for upcoming SEE expeditions, please contact us!

The staff and volunteers at the SEE International headquarters, request, organize and pack the supplies in customized packs for each expedition. SEE is not able to ship supplies internationally, but relies on the visiting team to transport supplies.

The need is great all over the world. SEE surgical teams travel to any developing country which meets these guidelines. Many of our expedition sites become recurring sites where teams travel on an annual or semiannual basis. Our surgical teams often develop close relationships with the host ophthalmologist and the people they serve, and they return each year. Additionally, new expedition sites are added annually. Take a glimpse at just some of the places SEE’s sight-restoring clinics have been held.

If you are an ophthalmologist, clinic administrator or a nonprofit organization and you would like to establish a location as a SEE site please start here to learn about what will be needed in order to initiate the process.

Contact SEE International when you are ready to participate in an expedition. We would be delighted to work with you to provide the administrative and logistical support for your expedition.

If you are unable to participate in a surgical eye expedition, there are a number of other ways in which you can help.

1. Sponsor a clinic. Contact our Development Department for more details.
2. Join SEE as an Affiliate to assist the humanitarian work of your colleagues worldwide.

Any support you can contribute is greatly appreciated. All gifts to SEE International are tax-deductible. Your support will enable SEE’s volunteer surgeons to outperform last year’s surgeries, which amounted to over 14,000 sight-restoring surgeries in 44 countries.