‘Curing the blind is a doctor’s job. Darkness then a festival of light.’

The Second Sight Story

UK registered charity 1080445

We are a sight charity founded by former TV reporter turned ophthalmologist Lucy Mathen.
In 2000 Dr Mathen made a lengthy trip across the breadth of rural north India where curable blindness was endemic. At every hospital she visited she was asked - please send us eye surgeons. In spite of India having a good number of ophthalmologists, the vast majority worked in the largest Indian cities.
Thanks to the goodwill of Dr Mathen’s ophthalmic colleagues, we could and did provide the surgeons for over a decade and did our utmost to attract and retain local doctors. 24 years on we have seen a remarkable reverse brain drain in the state of Bihar where we focus our work. A growing network of clinician-run, district-based hospitals is now providing a long-term solution to providing eye services for the poorest people. These are the teams we are asking you to support.

In 2024, our Small is Beautiful and Local modus operandi has never been more fit for purpose.
The climate emergency is having a devastating impact in Bihar. Hospitals create a great deal of waste. The Bigger is Better approach of the 20th century, constructing very large hospitals and transporting patients long distances, is no longer an appropriate model. Our small to medium-sized community hospitals, run for and by local people, provide permanent, comprehensive eye services, including emergency care, close to home.

Mindful of the dire poverty of the people of Bihar we remain a no office, no salaries, no admin and no expenses charity.

  ‘To see Second Sight in action challenging precepts, advising and encouraging amazingly dedicated, talented local doctors and enabling them to make a huge contribution to their communities is the equivalent of attending a masterclass in how an NGO should be run.’

Kay Brenders, Management Consultant, Canada

‘Second Sight is everything a charity ought to be - utterly transparent, meeting an unmet need and quick to change with changing circumstances.’

Ray Kipling former Deputy Director RNLI charity, UK

“ I continue to marvel at the cost-effectiveness of Second Sight and the team’s seemingly boundless energy and commitment to eradicating needless blindness …there can be no comparison between large organisations working in the same field in terms of value for money or need for financial assistance - Second Sight wins both of these contests hands down.”

Prof Phillip Bloom, Ophthalmologist, UK 

For more information or to donate please email : lucymathen@yahoo.com or pick up the phone and talk to us.
+44 207 359 1315 or + 44 7957300136
Read the Blog page for updates