Combat Blindness International
Combat Blindness International is a Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit founded in 1984 that eliminates preventable blindness in 19 countries through low-cost cataract surgeries, pediatric vision care, mobile screenings via a custom smartphone app, and a women's eye-care technician training program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Combat Blindness International does
Combat Blindness International (CBI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 by Dr. Suresh Chandra and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, with operations spanning 19 countries. The organization operates a portfolio of five programs organized around a four-pillar international model (International Cataract Program, International Pediatric Program, Certified Ophthalmic Paramedic (COP) Program, and The Aadya Initiative) plus a domestic Bright Eyes Program launched in 2025. Service delivery is executed through a partnership network of more than 18 eye hospitals and organizations including Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Aravind Eye Hospital, LRBT, Lions Sight, African Vision Trust, the Botswana Ministry of Health, and the Madison Metropolitan School District.
CBI's core offering is low-cost cataract and pediatric eye-care delivery at roughly $25 per cataract surgery, supported by a custom-built smartphone screening application deployed through the 2021-launched Aadya Initiative to conduct door-to-door screenings in remote regions and dispense glasses on-site. The COP Program adds a workforce-development layer, training young women as ophthalmic paramedics (980+ trained to date, representing 80% of Dr. Shroff's workforce). The Bright Eyes Vision Van Program extends a mobile-clinic model domestically to Madison students via a partnership with Vision To Learn. Revenue mechanics are charitable: individual donations through combatblindness.org, foundation grants (Madison Community Foundation, Allergan Foundation), and planned/legacy gifts through the Visionary Society program fund operations. Go-to-market is event-driven (annual World Sight Day gala), email/newsletter-driven, and supplemented by restricted grants. No revenue or budget figures are publicly disclosed.
Combat Blindness International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Combat Blindness International
- Legal name
- Combat Blindness International
- Website
- https://combatblindness.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Combat Blindness International is a Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit founded in 1984 that eliminates preventable blindness in 19 countries through low-cost cataract surgeries, pediatric vision care, mobile screenings via a custom smartphone app, and a women's eye-care technician training program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Combat Blindness International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Global Eye Health and Preventive Blindness Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Optometrists (62132), Optical Goods Retailers (45613)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics) (HLAHAJAH), Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD), Health Screening & Preventive Care Programs (Vision/Hearing/Immunization) (EDACAMAJ)
Keywords
Where Combat Blindness International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Combat Blindness International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations constitute the primary funding source for CBI's operations. The organization runs a donate button on its website and accepts planned/legacy gifts through its Visionary Society program.
- Grant Funding: CBI receives grants from foundations including Madison Community Foundation, Allergan Foundation, and others to fund specific programs like the Aadya Initiative and pediatric eye care.
- Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: The organization accepts planned gifts including bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, and donor-advised fund contributions through their Visionary Society program.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Cataract surgery - $25 per patient |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Combat Blindness International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Combat Blindness International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds and delivers eye care programs internationally to eliminate preventable blindness. Its portfolio includes adult cataract surgeries, pediatric vision screenings, training stipends for women to become eye care technicians, and a mobile door-to-door vision screening initiative using a custom-built smartphone app. Programs are delivered through partnerships with hospitals, schools, and government health ministries across 19 countries.
Product overview
Combat Blindness International operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of eye care programs built around four pillars: the International Cataract Program, International Pediatric Program, Certified Ophthalmic Paramedic (COP) Program, and The Aadya Initiative. These programs work synergistically to reduce cataract prevalence worldwide and expand access to eye care in rural areas. The Bright Eyes Program adds a domestic mobile eye clinic component serving Madison students. Programs are delivered through partnerships with hospitals, eye care institutions, and training facilities across 19 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bright Eyes Program: A program bringing follow-up eye care directly to Madison students through a mobile eye clinic (Vision Van).
- International Cataract Program
- International Pediatric Program
- Certified Ophthalmic Paramedic (COP) Program
- The Aadya Initiative
- Visionary Society
Products and services
- International Cataract Program A sight-restoring program that supports low-cost cataract surgeries and adult vision screenings internationally, with simple 20-minute surgeries that restore vision within 24 hours at approximately $25 per patient. Has supported over 3,664,224 adult vision screenings and more than 430,000 surgeries since 1984.
- International Pediatric Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 5,870,000+ total vision screenings performed across 19 countries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Combat Blindness International
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Combat Blindness International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Combat Blindness International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Vision To LearncoreVision To Learn joined CBI's Bright Eyes Vision Van Program as a partner, bringing nationally recognized expertise in school-based vision care. They pioneered a model that brings eye exams and glasses directly to students at school, removing barriers such as transportation, cost, language, and parental work schedules. Their mentorship helped ensure the Bright Eyes Program is operationally strong, sustainable, and scalable.
- Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye HospitalcoreDr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital in New Delhi, India hosts the Certified Ophthalmic Paramedic (COP) Program where CBI provides training stipends for young women to become eye care technicians. The COP women now account for 80% of the hospital's workforce.
- Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD)coreSince 2014, CBI has partnered with MMSD to screen over 3,000 3K-5K students annually for vision problems. Only 31% of referred students previously received follow-up care, prompting the launch of the Bright Eyes Vision Van Program.
- Lions SightmajorInternational partner organization working on eye care initiatives.
- LRBTmajorPartner organization providing eye care services in their operational regions.
- L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI)majorPremier eye care institute in India partnering with CBI for international programs.
- Aravind Eye HospitalmajorLeading eye hospital system in India providing surgical and screening services.
- African Vision TrustmajorAfrican-based organization focused on preventing blindness in Africa.
- Ministry of Health BotswanamajorGovernment partner in Botswana where CBI helped eliminate backlog of 6,000 cataract cases from Fall 2016 to Spring 2019.
- University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual SciencesmajorAcademic partner providing ophthalmology expertise and support.
- Sitapur Eye HospitalmajorEye hospital in India providing surgical services through CBI programs.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Combat Blindness International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Orbis International: Orbis International operates the Flying Eye Hospital and country programs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America providing cataract surgery, pediatric eye care, and training. Comparable to CBI's hospital-based surgical model and pediatric program, with a much larger telemedicine and clinical training infrastructure.
- Sightsavers: Sightsavers is a large international NGO focused on preventing avoidable blindness and supporting disability rights across 30+ countries. It is directly comparable to CBI for cataract surgical programs, trachoma elimination, and NTD-focused eye health work, but operates at significantly greater scale and budget.
- Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) SightFirst: LCIF's SightFirst program is one of the largest global funders of cataract surgeries and blindness prevention, partnering with local hospitals in dozens of countries. Comparable to CBI in mission and target beneficiary populations, with materially greater global funding capacity.
Direct peers
- Aravind Eye Care System: Aravind Eye Hospital is a leading high-volume, low-cost cataract surgery provider in India and a major CBI partner. Comparable to CBI's cataract program on surgical model, cost structure (as low as $10/patient historically), and rural outreach approach.
- Vision To Learn: Vision To Learn provides mobile vision clinics bringing eye exams and glasses directly to U.S. school students. CBI explicitly partnered with Vision To Learn to launch the Bright Eyes Vision Van Program in Madison, making it the most directly comparable peer for CBI's domestic school-based vision program.
- Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital: Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital is a high-volume charitable eye hospital in New Delhi that hosts CBI's COP women training program (where CBI-trained women now comprise 80% of hospital workforce). Comparable on low-cost surgical model and workforce training mission.
- Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation: Foundation focused on vision care access in underserved communities, including refractive error correction and optometry workforce development. Overlap with CBI on glasses distribution (430,000+ pairs) and training local eye care workers.
- Himalayan Cataract Project (Cure Blindness Project): Cure Blindness Project is the closest direct peer to CBI, focused on high-volume, low-cost cataract surgery in low-income countries (Ethiopia, Nepal, India, Ghana). Shares CBI's model of partnering with local hospitals and training local clinicians for sustainable, ultra-low-cost cataract interventions.
- L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI): LVPEI is a premier Indian eye care institute providing comprehensive eye care, training, and rural vision centers. Is a major CBI partner and highly comparable on integrated care model, training programs, and rural vision center network.
Emerging players
- Peek Vision: Peek Vision builds smartphone-based vision screening and referral software used by NGOs and government health programs globally. Comparable to CBI's Aadya Initiative smartphone screening app on technology-driven community vision screening delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Combat Blindness International social profiles
Digital presenceCombat Blindness International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Combat Blindness International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Combat Blindness International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Combat Blindness International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Combat Blindness International
What does Combat Blindness International do?
Combat Blindness International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds and delivers eye care programs internationally to eliminate preventable blindness. Its portfolio includes adult cataract surgeries, pediatric vision screenings, training stipends for women to become eye care technicians, and a mobile door-to-door vision screening initiative using a custom-built smartphone app. Programs are delivered through partnerships with hospitals, schools, and government health ministries across 19 countries.
Is Combat Blindness International a public or private company?
Combat Blindness International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Combat Blindness International founded?
Combat Blindness International was founded in 1984. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Combat Blindness International based?
Combat Blindness International is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does Combat Blindness International make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are grant Funding and planned Giving / Legacy Gifts.
Who are Combat Blindness International's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Orbis International, Sightsavers and Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) SightFirst. Direct peers are Aravind Eye Care System, Vision To Learn, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation, Himalayan Cataract Project (Cure Blindness Project) and L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI). Peek Vision is listed as an emerging player.
Does Combat Blindness International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Combat Blindness International.
What industry is Combat Blindness International in?
Combat Blindness International's product category is Global Eye Health and Preventive Blindness Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAKAA, Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care, with a secondary code of HLAHAJAH, Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics). Its NAICS code is 62132 and its SIC code is 8000.