About Us

The Cataract Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CFPI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring sight and transforming lives among underserved Filipinos.

Since 1992, we have worked to eliminate preventable blindness — particularly cataract — through affordable, high-quality surgery, community training, and strong partnerships nationwide.

Our mission is simple yet powerful:
Restoring Sight. Transforming Lives.

Our Beginning: A Vision Born from Service (1979–1992)

The story of CFPI began in 1979 when Dr. Fortunato Eusebio, a volunteer ophthalmologist from Negros Occidental, joined Rotary International in Gujarat, India to participate in surgical eye camps.

Inspired by the impact of high-volume cataract surgery, he returned to the Philippines with a vision — to make cataract surgery accessible to poor Filipinos.

Through the Rotary Club of Bacolod North, the “Sight Savers” project was created. The project aimed to perform 50–60 cataract surgeries annually. Patients were housed in school classrooms converted into temporary dormitories and transported to hospitals for surgery.

Although the effort was meaningful and supported by dedicated volunteers, it was not cost-efficient and could only serve a limited number of patients each year.

The need was far greater.

In 1992, Dr. Eusebio and Eusebio “Jack” Po, together with like-minded individuals, formally established Cataract Foundation Philippines, Inc. The goal was clear: To expand services beyond dozens — and reach thousands.

Building a Sustainable Model of Care

CFPI negotiated with Dr. Pablo O. Torre Sr. Memorial Hospital in Bacolod to allow indigent patients to undergo cataract surgery at significantly reduced costs. Surgical supplies and hospital bills were funded by the Foundation.

Within the first two years, nearly 1,000 cataract surgeries per year were performed for poor patients — a dramatic increase from the original 50–60 annual cases.

To sustain growth, CFPI began:

Training health professionals and community workers to detect cataracts
Mobilizing village health workers for referrals
Developing a cost-effective, high-volume surgical system
Training ophthalmologists to replicate the “Bacolod Model” in their provinces

This approach allowed ordinary community members to become active participants in restoring sight.

National and International Partnerships

A major turning point came when CFPI partnered with Christoffel Blindenmission (CBM), an international development organization committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities.

By 1995, CBM recognized CFPI as a model project. The partnership enabled CFPI to:

Manage funds, equipment, medicines, and surgical supplies nationwide
Coordinate eye care work among CBM partners in the Philippines
Train ophthalmologists from different provinces
Receive international technical support

CFPI also contributed to the global Vision 2020 initiative — a worldwide campaign to eliminate avoidable blindness.

Through additional support such as AusAID funding (1999–2003), CFPI further expanded its reach and sustainability.

Expanding Beyond Cataract

While cataract remains the main cause of blindness in the Philippines, CFPI expanded its programs to address other major eye conditions identified in national surveys:

Childhood blindness
Errors of refraction
Glaucoma
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

Programs now include:

Community and school vision screening
Provision of eyeglasses to children and adults
Primary Eye Care training for Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Maternal & Child Health workers
Pediatric eye care advocacy
Referral systems for irreversible blindness cases

In 2002, CFPI established the Visayas Hearing Centre (VHC), expanding its commitment to ear and hearing care in the region.

Leadership and Training Excellence

CFPI is led by:

President: Mr. Eusebio “Jack” Po
Medical Adviser: Dr. Fortunato Eusebio
Program Manager: Ms. Mavis Campos

Dr. Eusebio has trained ophthalmologists locally and internationally, including in Myanmar and the Pacific Islands. He has trained hundreds of doctors and health workers in cost-effective surgical techniques such as Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS).

Even beyond retirement age, he continues to serve — committed not just to statistics, but to the lives behind them.