What OCULARIS does

OCULARIS is a Spanish non-governmental development organization (ONGD) founded in 2010 and headquartered in Sitges, Barcelona, with a small permanent team of 21 employees. Its mission is to train visual health specialists — optometrists, ophthalmologists, and orthoptists — in Sub-Saharan African countries, primarily Senegal and Mozambique, using a train-the-trainer model rather than direct patient care. Academic delivery is anchored by a long-standing partnership with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (FOOT-UPC) and partner institutions in Senegal (Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor) and Mozambique (Universidade Eduardo Mondlane via MozVisao), where OCULARIS contributes to bachelor's degrees in orthoptics, postgraduate diplomas in ophthalmopediatrics, and master's degrees in ophthalmology with oculoplastics specialization.

OCULARIS operates a portfolio of complementary programs: the Dame Visión used-glasses donation program, the "Todos los Ojos" documentary and didactic guides for citizenship education in Spanish schools, the biennial COPCID International Congress on Child Visual Health, and a glaucoma screening service in Spain. The organization holds AECID NGDO registry status (qualifying donations for Spanish tax deductions under Law 49/2002) and IAPB-WHO membership, and is supported by over 20 Spanish municipalities, Catalan government agencies (ACCD), leading Barcelona hospitals, and corporate partners in the optical sector.

Revenue is generated from five streams: individual donations, recurring membership subscriptions (€10/month to €50/semester), Spanish municipal and institutional grants, corporate partnerships (the "Soy Empresa con Valores" program), and registration fees from the COPCID congress (€70-virtual to €195-full). The technology footprint is a standard web platform with PHP backend, Apache, and WordPress; there is no evidence of proprietary software, patents, or AI/ML components.

Name

OCULARIS

Legal name

OCULARIS

Website

https://ocularis.ong

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OCULARIS is a Spanish ONGD founded in 2010 that trains visual health specialists (optometrists, ophthalmologists, orthoptists) in Sub-Saharan Africa through university partnerships, primarily in Senegal and Mozambique. It funds operations via donations, memberships, and institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Health Training

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (62132)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Schools of Optometry (EDAHAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ophthalmic/Optometric Assisting (EDAOAJAK), Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (HLAKAKAD)

Keywords

• Visual health training
• International development cooperation
• Pediatric ophthalmology education
• Nonprofit health services
• Ophthalmology professional training

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donors make one-time or recurring donations to support visual health training programs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Donations qualify for tax deductions under Spanish Law 49/2002.
2. Membership Fees: Individuals and organizations can become members with regular contributions (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual payment options). Membership fees range from 10€ to 50€ or more, with approximately 80-90% of member contributions going directly to program work after tax benefits.
3. Congress Registration Fees: COPCID 2027 congress registration fees ranging from 70€ to 195€ depending on attendee category (optometrist, student, member, etc.). Includes conference entry fees for full congress and single-day options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OCULARIS is a Spanish non-governmental development organization (ONGD) that trains visual health professionals in Sub-Saharan Africa through university diploma, bachelor's, and master's programs in pediatric ophthalmology, orthoptics, optometry, ocular prosthetics, and oculoplastics delivered in Senegal and Mozambique. It complements these academic programs with the Dame Visión glasses donation initiative, the biennial COPCID international congress on child visual health, and the Todos los Ojos documentary and citizenship-education didactic guides.

Product overview

OCULARIS is an ONGD (Non-Governmental Development Organization) focused on visual health training in low-income countries, primarily operating in Sub-Saharan Africa (Senegal and Mozambique). The organization offers a portfolio of educational programs including university diplomas, bachelor's degrees, and master's specializations in ophthalmopediatrics, orthoptics, optometry, and ocular prosthetics. Supporting these academic offerings are complementary services: the Dame Visión glasses donation program, the COPCID international congress, and the Todos los Ojos documentary with teaching guides for citizenship education. The model centers on training local visual health professionals rather than providing direct patient care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dame Visión: A glasses donation initiative run by OCULARIS that allows supporters to donate glasses to visually impaired individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• COPCID
• RIOVIS
• Todos los Ojos

Products and services

• Postgraduate Diploma in Ophthalmopediatrics University postgraduate diploma delivered in Dakar, Senegal, that trains visual health professionals in pediatric ophthalmology and pediatric eye care, in collaboration with local and partner institutions.
• Bachelor's Degree in Orthoptics University bachelor's degree program in orthoptics offered in Thiès, Senegal, providing specialized training in the diagnosis and management of binocular vision and eye movement disorders.
• Master's in Ophthalmology with Oculoplastics Master's degree program specializing in tropical oculoplastics and orbital tumors, delivered in Mozambique in collaboration with MozVisao and the Mozambique Ministry of Health.
• Pediatric Optometry Program Specialized training in pediatric optometry and refraction for eye care professionals, implemented in collaboration with Fundació UPC in Senegal and Mozambique, including the 4th edition of the Master's in Pediatric Optometry (2026–2027).
• Ocular Prosthetics Training Training program in ocular prosthetics offered in Mozambique, focused on fabricating and fitting artificial eyes for patients who have lost an eye.
• Dame Visión Glasses Donation Program A glasses donation initiative run by OCULARIS that allows individual donors to contribute vision-correcting eyewear to people in need in Sub-Saharan Africa, including the "Apadrina unas Gafas" sponsorship campaign delivered with MozVisao.
• COPCID International Congress on Child Visual Health Biennial international congress on child visual health and optometry organized by OCULARIS, bringing together optometrists, ophthalmologists, pediatricians, optometry students, and NGOs to advance cooperation and research in visual health.
• Todos los Ojos Documentary and Didactic Guides Educational documentary on visual health in Senegal ("Todos los Ojos: La salud visual en Senegal") with accompanying didactic teaching guides for primary and secondary education, produced with Grup Eirene to raise awareness of visual health inequalities in the Global South.
• Solidarity Actions (Acciones Sociales) Social outreach programs that deliver visual health services and care to underserved populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, complementing OCULARIS's academic training portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of vision loss preventable or curable with proper training and access to care
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agència Catalana de Cooperació al Desenvolupament (ACCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatalan government agency for international development cooperation providing institutional support and funding for visual health training programs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Ajuntament de BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarcelona city council providing municipal support for OCULARIS programs through development cooperation initiatives.
• Ajuntament de L'Hospitalet de LlobregatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal support from L'Hospitalet de Llobregat for international development projects.
• Ajuntament de MartorellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal support from Martorell for visual health cooperation programs.
• Ajuntament de Mollet del VallèsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal cooperation support from Mollet del Vallès.
• La Paeria - Ajuntament de LleidaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal support from Lleida city council for development cooperation.
• Ajuntament de Santa Coloma de GramenetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal support from Santa Coloma de Gramenet for visual health programs.
• Ajuntament de Sant Pere de RibesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal support from Sant Pere de Ribes for development cooperation.
• Ajuntament de SitgesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal support from Sitges for visual health cooperation programs.
• Ajuntament de TerrassaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal support from Terrassa for international development.
• Ajuntament de Vilanova i la GeltrúminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal support from Vilanova i la Geltrú for cooperation projects.
• Hospital St. Joan de Déu de BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading pediatric hospital in Barcelona providing expertise and support for pediatric ophthalmology training programs.
• Hospital Clínic de BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor academic hospital in Barcelona collaborating on medical training and knowledge exchange programs.
• FOOT-UPCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty of Optics and Optometry at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, providing academic framework and credentials for training programs.
• CCD-UPCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment Cooperation Centre at Polytechnic University of Catalonia supporting academic programs.
• Light For The WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational disability-focused development organization working on visual health programs globally, providing international network access.
• Fundación Ulls del MónminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish foundation focused on eye health in developing countries.
• Fundación BarraquerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOphthalmology foundation in Barcelona supporting eye health training and research.
• Zer07minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting social initiatives and development projects.
• General OpticaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish optical retail chain supporting visual health programs.
• Natural OpticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOptical company supporting visual health initiatives.
• CottetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOptical company providing support for visual health programs.
• MozVisaocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial optics organization affiliated with the Ministry of Health of Mozambique, providing local implementation and ministry coordination for training programs in Mozambique.
• Grup EirenecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacifist, educational and solidarity association that promotes respect for human rights from a creative and innovative perspective. Co-producer of the documentary 'Todos los Ojos' and didactic guides for citizenship education.
• COOOCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOptometry professional association collaborating on COPCID 2027 congress organization.
• FOOT (Col·legi Oficial d'Òptics Optometristes de Catalunya)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial College of Optical Optometrists of Catalonia collaborating on professional congress events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sightsavers: Sightsavers is a large international NGO focused on preventing avoidable blindness and advocating for disability rights, with programs across 30+ lower-income countries. It is comparable to OCULARIS as both deliver training, service delivery, and advocacy in visual health in low-income geographies, but Sightsavers operates at much greater scale and geographic reach.
• ORBIS International: ORBIS International is a global NGO that trains eye care professionals and provides eye health services in low- and middle-income countries, including through its Flying Eye Hospital. Comparable to OCULARIS in mission (training local visual health professionals) and target beneficiary populations, with broader geographic scope and program portfolio.
• Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation: Brien Holden Vision Institute is an Australian global non-profit focused on vision research, education, and access to eye care in underserved communities. Comparable to OCULARIS in its training, education, and refractive error focus, with greater research and global scope.
• CBM (Christian Blind Mission): CBM is a major international development organization focused on disability inclusion, with substantial eye health programming including training and service delivery in low-income countries. Comparable to OCULARIS in mission and beneficiary population, but with vastly larger scale and global footprint.

Direct peers

• Light For The World: Light For The World is an international disability-focused development organization working on eye health and inclusive development — already a Core partner of OCULARIS. Directly comparable as a peer in eye health training and disability inclusion in lower-income countries, with broader geographic reach and a similar partnership-based model.
• Fundación Barraquer: Fundación Barraquer is a Barcelona-based ophthalmology foundation supporting eye health training and research — already a partner of OCULARIS. Comparable as a peer institute focusing on ophthalmology training and international cooperation, with similar geographic and sector focus.
• Fundación Ulls del Món (Eyes of the World): Fundación Ulls del Món is a Barcelona-based Spanish foundation focused on eye health in developing countries — already a partner of OCULARIS. Directly comparable as a peer non-profit in the same geography and vertical (visual health training and service delivery in low-income countries), making it the closest direct peer.

Regional players

• Himalayan Cataract Project: Himalayan Cataract Project (now Cure Blindness Foundation) trains local eye care professionals and delivers high-volume cataract surgery in low-income countries. Comparable to OCULARIS in its training-of-local-professionals model, but operating primarily in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a more surgical focus.

Emerging players

• VisionSpring: VisionSpring is a social enterprise that provides affordable eyewear and trains vision entrepreneurs in low-income countries. Comparable to OCULARIS in addressing visual impairment in underserved populations, but with a more commercial, product-distribution model rather than NGO training model.
• Restoring Vision: Restoring Vision is a non-profit organization that distributes new reading and sunglasses glasses to people in need in low-income countries. Comparable to OCULARIS's Dame Visión glasses donation program, though Restoring Vision focuses more directly on product distribution rather than training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ocularis.ong

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OCULARIS