Speaker: John Miles – Global Sight Solutions
Meeting Date: 27 August 2025 
We were pleased to welcome Rotarian John Miles from the Rotary Club of Guildford, who spoke about his work as a trustee of Global Sight Solutions, a Rotary-founded charity dedicated to preventing and treating avoidable blindness in some of the world’s poorest communities.
About Global Sight Solutions
Founded in 1988 (originally as the Guildford Rotary Eye Project), the charity partners with local Rotary clubs to build and equip eye hospitals in regions where medical treatment is scarce or unaffordable. Each hospital is run as an independent organisation with its own trustees, supported by funding, training and guidance fromhttp://Global Sight Solutions
Impact and Reach
-
Rotary has helped establish 80 permanent eye hospitals in areas of need Hospitals established in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Lebanon, Uganda and Nigeria
-
250,000 cataract operations performed every year
- Over 1.2 billion people worldwide are affected by avoidable sight loss
Each hospital includes a pharmacy supplying trusted, medicines to patients and the surrounding community. John highlighted that the Rotary name carries great credibility, helping build confidence in the services provided.
How Rotary Helps
Global Sight Solutions is an approved Rotary International Foundation grant-recipient.
-
Cost to equip a new eye hospital: £70,000
-
Amount needed from Rotary clubs to unlock a full Foundation grant: £12,000
-
Cost of a cataract operation through the charity: just £5
John shared photos from his recent visit to the Indian subcontinent and Africa, where he and his wife Fiona met with local Rotary clubs exploring opportunities for new hospital projects.
What’s Next
Funding is currently needed for:
-
New hospitals in Ghana and Nepal
-
Updated equipment and outreach vehicles
-
Specialist training programmes
-
Expanded paediatric eye surgery services
-
If you would like to learn more, support the charity visit Global Sight Solutions .
