Surgical Eye Expeditions International - History

History

Harry Brown, M.D., F.A.C.S. founded Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International, Inc. in 1974. The inspiration for SEE was found in response to the overwhelming number of people worldwide living with surgically curable blindness, the majority of which is caused by cataracts.

During his fellowship in the early 1970s Dr. Brown worked with eye surgeons in Africa and Asia. Excited by the experience of healing people who traveled great distances for sight-restoring surgery, he first realized the need for a permanent vehicle to link volunteer professionals with disadvantaged blind persons throughout the developing world. Dr. Brown’s vision was realized in the founding of Surgical Eye Expeditions International, Inc. on August 26, 1974 with the help of Mr. William Crockett. Mr. Crockett was instrumental in the early years of SEE, serving as administrator for the first six years.

In the late 1980s the Santa Barbara Vision Care Program was created to reach low income and uninsured individuals in the Santa Barbara Community. Every year 300-600 vision screenings are conducted and 5 - 12 surgeries are facilitated for those in the local community who have no other means of obtaining such services.

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