About IRIS International Response to Improve Sight (IRIS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing blindness and to restoring the vision of afflicted individuals in the developing world. Working directly with native health-care providers, IRIS strives to end avoidable blindness through education and equipment donations. In addition, IRIS recognizes the importance of supporting and encouraging local medical personnel, who form the front-line in the war against global blindness. IRIS is the trade name for Blue Ridge International Ophthalmology Inc., a Virginia non-stock corporation that has tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3). The IRIS Board of Directors pays all administrative costs. Therefore, a contributor's entire tax-deductible donation to IRIS is applied to the purchase of equipment for overseas clinics and for educational activities promoting medical missions. We Are Making Progress Thanks to the generosity of IRIS's contributors, we raised more than $35,000 in 2006 to fight blindness in the developing world. Here is what the contributions have enabled us to do in the communities in Africa where we work: Deliver numerous shipments of medications and surgical supplies to treat eye disease in two eye clinics in Cameroon (Mbingo and Banso). Place a slit lamp microscope in the Banso Eye Clinic so that eye disorders can be diagnosed more accurately and treated. Install a Yag Laser at the Mbingo Eye Clinic, enabling doctors to remove visual clouding following cataract surgery and permitting the restoration of sight to thousands of individuals in the coming years. See How to Help for information on on how you can assist IRIS in its mission. Every dollar that you give goes directly to preventing blindness and restoring the vision of afflicted people in developing countries. The IRIS board pays all administrative costs. Donations are tax deductible. IRIS Brochure (pdf)