Serving the people of Belize for more than 35 years
The Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI) is a non-profit organization that aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with visual impairments and reduce the prevalence of blindness through appropriate eye care. BCVI was established in 1981 and in its over 35 years of existence has developed a truly comprehensive eye service. It has successfully developed a range of services that support the needs of blind and visually impaired people whilst also actively working to prevent eye problems that can lead to blindness. Through our programmes, BCVI reaches out to serve more than 17,000 people countrywide each year.
In the Primary Eye Care Programme Optometrists and Ophthalmic Assistants at our five clinics throughout Belize offer free eye exams and for vision problems that can be solved with glasses, we also have an Eye Glass Lab where all the prescription lenses are matched with & fitted into the patients’ chosen frames.
All patients from our clinics around the country needing further medical & surgical treatment for their eye condition are referred to BCVI’s National Eye Clinic (NEC) in Belize City. With the introduction of the NEC in early 2000, we have been able to attract international volunteer Surgical Ophthalmologists and Eye Care Specialists to work alongside our Medical Ophthalmologist to treat patients with Cataract, Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy, as well as other eye conditions. Our comprehensive eye exams and efficient referrals from the primary clinics allow for ease of process flow once patients arrive at the NEC.
There are several reasons why people become irreversibly blind. Early identification and early intervention are key to the success of the Community Based Rehabilitation Services. Once it has been established that a person’s sight cannot be restored, BCVI’s Rehabilitation Field Officers (RFOs) begin to work with that person, helping them to adapt to the new challenges they will face. RFOs work with patients across the life cycle so that all newly blind & visually impaired people have the chance to live independent & fulfilling lives.
Visit our website at: http://www.bcvi.org
or our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/bcvibelize/