Eye health is fundamental to quality of life, independence, and new opportunities. That is why Oertli supports selected organisations delivering essential ophthalmic care to people in regions affected by poverty, crisis, or limited access to medical services.
When people regain their sight after eye surgery, it transforms far more than just their view of the world. In this TEDxHWZ talk, Co-CEO Thomas Bosshard highlights the impact that modern ophthalmic surgery can have in underserved regions and the vital role played by the work of Dr Sanduk Ruit.

Access to eye surgery: We support selected organisations that enable people in underserved regions to access ophthalmic care. This includes areas where medical infrastructure, trained specialists or financial resources are limited.
Operating in challenging environments: Some of the organisations we support work in locations where access to medical care is restricted, for example in remote regions or through mobile outreach programmes. Our support helps ensure that ophthalmic procedures can be carried out even under such conditions.
Partners with a long-term approach: Many partner organisations combine medical interventions with additional measures such as training, local collaboration and the development of sustainable healthcare structures.
The Fundación Elena Barraquer is dedicated to restoring sight and changing lives through its #NoMoreCataracts initiative, helping people with cataracts regain access to life-changing ophthalmic care.
For more than 13 years, Dr Elena Barraquer and her team have been bringing hope to those in need through medical missions, already restoring vision to over 30,000 people through cataract surgery.
Dr Sanduk Ruit is an ophthalmologist and Director of the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Kathmandu. In Nepal, he is dedicated to bringing life-changing eye care to people in remote regions, where access to medical support is limited.
Discover how Dr Sanduk Ruit and his team prepare for a mission to the Dolpo region, reaching patients for whom access to the nearest hospital is often difficult, and restoring sight where it is needed most.

Soleil d’Afrique is a non-governmental organisation that provides essential ophthalmic care to underserved communities in Benin. With specially equipped mobile hospital units, the organisation brings its services directly to remote villages.
The Cure Blindness Project was founded as the Himalayan Cataract Project and has been dedicated to restoring sight for over 30 years. What began in Nepal has grown into a programme active in more than 30 countries. To date, the Cure Blindness Project has performed over 1.84 million sight-restoring surgeries.
Discover the projectAlina Eye Hospital in Hung Yen is part of the Alina Vision initiative and is committed to making high-quality, affordable eye care accessible to underserved communities. Many of its services are aimed at people without sufficient insurance coverage or financial means. A particular focus is placed on women and underserved population groups.
SEE International is a non-profit humanitarian organisation dedicated to improving access to ophthalmic care. A global network of volunteer medical professionals supports SEE International in providing surgical treatment to people who would otherwise have little or no access to care.
Since 1974, the organisation has helped more than four million people, trained over 600 ophthalmologists and performed more than 600,000 surgeries.
The Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah is involved in the international training of ophthalmologists, nurses and other eye care professionals. In more than 25 countries, the team supports training programmes and medical missions, enabling local professionals to gain practical experience and further develop their expertise.
La Familia Eye Center is part of Hospital de la Familia and provides non-profit, affordable ophthalmic care in western Guatemala and the Mexican state of Chiapas. The region is significantly underserved, which makes access to ophthalmic treatment particularly important for many people.
Since 2005, Health in Sight Mission has been supporting people on the island of Roatán in Honduras who have limited access to ophthalmic care. The organisation provides eye examinations, cataract surgery and additional treatments.
In the long term, a local eye clinic is planned, to be run by Honduran ophthalmologists and clinical staff. This helps ensure that care remains close to the people who need it.
The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is dedicated to treating avoidable blindness and visual impairment in the Pacific. Working together with local partners, the foundation supports people who have limited access to eye care.