David Parker Around Town: Operation Eyesight
There's no doubt that the more than 15,000 members of Rotary International and their families — who are visiting Calgary this week from over 120 countries for a global convention — are enjoying dialogue, cultural exchanges and action on issues ranging from peace to public health.
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Many would also be interested to learn that an organization more than 474 Rotary clubs have supported over the past 62 years was founded and is headquartered in Calgary – Operation Eyesight.
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It is an international development organization working to eliminate avoidable vision loss and to bring quality eye health care to communities where it is needed most. Founded in Calgary in 1963, it has grown to become a global organization that spans four continents and includes health workers and volunteers, physicians and ophthalmic personnel.
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It was founded by Art Jenkyns, a member of Rotary Club of Calgary West a local businessman who was inspired by Dr. Ben Gullison, a Canadian physician working in India. In 1986. Jenkyns and fellow Rotarian Bill Tapuska — who served as former chair and president of Operation Eyesight — led a team of six Rotarians to India to visit several of the projects sponsored by Operation Eyesight and Rotary, and were hosted by Rotary members in their homes as they travelled throughout the country.
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Since then, Rotary clubs have collectively contributed $3.88 million, a figure that does not include Rotary grants that went directly to its partners. Rotary visitors should know how thankful Operation Eyesight is for their support. Since 2020, 23 clubs have provided over 3,100 gifts, totalling $748,565, and in addition its projects have also been supported by the Rotary Foundation. In 2005, Rotary International celebrated its 100 th anniversary by supporting Operation Eyesight, through its Partners in Vision project set out to finance 100,000 sight-restoring surgeries, over and above Rotary's regular contributions.
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Rotary continues to provide support for key areas of the organization's works that incudes eye surgeries, building vision centres, mobile eye units, clean water and community outreach.
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A good example of the way in which Rotary supports programs is with a program in India to help prevent blindness in babies. Launched in 2024, in partnership with the CL Gupta Eye Institute, Operation Eyesight expanded its Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) program in Moradabad to include five additional districts, thanks to Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Calgary Stampede Park, and the Rotary Club of Moradabad East, India.
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