The World Cataract Foundation's mission of helping the world to see by striving to eliminate cataract blindness in the developing nations of the world is accomplished by its programs:

Surgery Teams

The WCF sponsors volunteer teams that travel to developing parts of the world to provide free cataract surgeries for the poorest of the poor who otherwise would continue to live with blindness The surgery teams are composed of physicians, nurses, technicians and support volunteers. WCF volunteer teams have worked in fourteen nations, giving sight to thousands. Each team carries advanced surgical equipment and medical supplies.

Medical Personnel Exchange Program

The WCF provides advanced ophthalmological training in Memphis, Tennessee, for selected ophthalmologists from developing nations. In addition, the WCF recruits ophthalmologists from other parts of the United States to provide advanced training for ophthalmologists from the two-thirds world.
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Cataract-Free Zones

The WCF partners with governments and national ophthalmologists in developing countries for concentrated efforts to make targeted areas cataract-free zones. The partnership involves a multilevel strategy that includes volunteer surgery teams, advanced on-site training and empowering national ophthalmologists by supplying intraocular lenses, surgery equipment and medical supplies.

WCF Fellowship

The WCF sponsors a fellowship for doctors who have completed their residency. The fellowship includes nine months of advanced study and surgical training and three months of service in a developing country.

Surgery Equipment Donations

The WCF donates advanced surgery equipment, intraocular lenses and surgical/medical supplies to hospitals and ophthalmologists in developing countries to enable and empower them to provide sight-saving cataract surgery for the needy.

Research

The WCF supports and encourages research in the development of inexpensive intraocular lenses for use around the world and in advancements in the treatment of blindness. The WCF networks with other organizations sharing similar goals to promote research

Training

In conjunction with the volunteer surgery trips the WCF provides training for national ophthalmologists through lecture, seminars and conferences. The WCF provides a library of training tapes, books and training opportunities on the internet to promote the advancement of ophthalmological practice in the developing world.