Volunteers needed:

Medicine team: they will travel to communities for 4 to 5 days

• 3-4 MDS of various specialties
• 1-2RNs
• 1 pharmacist
• 1 medical resident & 1 medical student
• 1 administrative assistant
• 1-2 translators

Surgical Eye Team:patients will be evaluated in eye clinic and will be selected for surgery

• 2-3 ophthalmic surgeons
• 4-5 RNs or CSTs for OR with ophthalmic experience
• 1 ophthalmology resident
• 1 anesthesiologists or critical care physician
• 1 preop/postop RN
• 1 sterilization tech
• 1 medical student
• 1 administrative assistant
• 1-2 translators

There will be an opportunity to visit Machu Picchu after the mission is completed. There will be a travel agent who can guide you through the process. Otherwise, you can return with the main group on March 28th. If you are interested in joining the Sights on Health team, please email Dr. Debra Messina here, for an application no later than 11/3/2025. Thank you!

There are all price ranges to fit everyone’s wallet…

Sights On Health is a nonprofit tax exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

Donate Today!

Or make checks payable to Sights on Health, Inc. and mail to:

Sights on Health, Inc.
P.O. Box 427
Setauket, N.Y. 11733

• Transport team from Quito to Riobamba, Roundtrip   $550
  Donated By:

• Oxygen tanks for patients while having cataract surgery $58
  Donated By: 

• BSS (Balanced Saline Solution) for surgery 35 bottles @ $35 each, $1,225 total or $35 for 1 bottle
  Donated By:

• Non sterile gloves @$11.00/box need 20 boxes, $220 total or $11 each
  Donated By: 

• Bouffant hats for operating room box of 1000 @$70
  Donated By: 

• Shoe covers 300 @ $35, need 2 boxes @$70
  Donated By:

• Surgical masks 300 @ $44
  Donated By: 
• Sterile surgical gowns 175@ $432
  Donated By:

• Chlorohexidine for hand scrubbing prior to surgery 3 bottles @ $95
  Donated By: Diane Farrel

• Steam Indicator strips 500/box @$38 each, $76 for 2 boxes
  Donated By: Mr. & Mrs. Schram 

• Sterile Mayo stand covers 30/case @$45 each, $180 for 4 cases or $45 each
  Donated By: Dr. Jacqueline Armani                                    

• Viscoelastic for eye surgery 45 vials @$45 each, $1,530 or $45 per vial
  Donated By: Gilda Zirinsky $360 (8 vials)

• 10cc syringes 400/box @$44
  Donated By: Dr. Jacqueline Armani 

• 3cc syringes 200/box @$22
  Donated By: Dr. Jacqueline Armani 

• Sterile Instrument pouches 100 @ $22.58
  Donated By:

• Intravenous solution for patients 40 bags for $180 or 10 bags for $45
  Donated By: Katherine La Forte

ANALGESICS, ANTIPYRETICS , ALLERGY:

• Tylenol 1000 tabs $10Donated By:

• Tylenol liquid for children to treat 6 children for $30
  Donated By:
• Motrin 1500 tabs $35, need 4500 @ $105
  Donated By: 

• Motrin liquid for children 300 tabs for $20
  Donated By: 

• Benadryl 1000 tabs $15, need 2000 @ $30
  Donated By: 

• Claritin 500 tabs $28
  Donated By:

• Prednisone 100 $10
  Donated By:

• EpiPen 10 doses @ $20
  Donated By: 

• Cough Drops 1500 @ $60
  Donated By:

GASTRO-INTESTINAL:

• Prilosec 1000 tabs  $57
  Donated By:

• Dulcolax 1000 tabs $10
  Donated By:

ANTIBIOTICS, ANTIVIRALS & ANTIFUNGALS to treat infections:

• Amoxicillin children’s dose 1000 tabs $40
  Donated By:

• Amoxicillin liquid 40 doses $70
  Donated By: 

• Amoxicillin adult dose 1000 tabs $50
  Donated By: 

• Augmentin 50 tabs $25
  Donated By:

• Augmentin children’s dose: treat 1 child $11, need 10 @ $110
  Donated By: 

• Zithromax 500 tabs $150
  Donated By:

• Zithromax for children: treat 10 children $30, need for 40 children @ $120
  Donated By:

• Keflex 100 tabs $10
  Donated By:

• Keflex for children 1 dose $20, four children $80
  Donated By:

• Cipro 500 tabs $50
  Donated By: 

• Tetracycline 1000 tabs $50
  Donated By: 

• Fluconanzole 100 tabs $20
  Donated By:

• Levaquin 100 tabs $20, need 200 @ $40
  Donated By:

• Bactrim 500 tabs $30
  Donated By:

• Bactrim liquid 12 bottles $25
  Donated By:

• Flagyl 1000 tabs $40
  Donated By: 

• Nystatin liquid  5 doses $10
  Donated By: 

• Zovirax 500 tabs $35
  Donated By:

• Diflucan 100 doses $20
  Donated By:

ANTIPARASITICS:

• Albendazol 500 tabs $40
  Donated By:

• Ivermectin 100 tabs $15
  Donated By:

• Mebendazol 1000 tabs $25
  Donated By:

• Permethrin 1 treatment for 1 person $10, need 20 @ $200
  Donated By: 

• ItchB Gone 1 treatment $35, need 2 @ $70
  Donated By:

MEDICATIONS TO TREAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:

• Lasix 1000 tabs $15
  Donated By:

• Zestril 1000 tabs $15
  Donated By:

• Lopressor 1000 tabs $25
  Donated By:

• Terazosin 100 tabs $20
  Donated By:

TOPICAL CREAMS:

• Hydrocortisone 20 tubes $30
  Donated By:

• Vitamin A & D 144 tubes $10, need 288 @ $20
  Donated By:

• White Petrolatum 144 tubes $10
  Donated By:

• Antibiotic 12 tubes $23
  Donated By:

• Antifungal 6 tubes $15
  Donated By:

• Antifungal 10 tubes $20
  Donated By:

CARDIOVASCULAR:

• Aspirin 1000 tabs $10, need 10,000 @ $100
  Donated By:

• Metoprolol 10000 tabs $20
  Donated By:

• Terazocin 100 tablets $20
  Donated By:

VITAMINS/MINERALS:

• Folic Acid 1000 tabs @ $25
  Donated By:

• Infant Multivitamin for 30 children $130
  Donated By:

• Children’s multivitamin 5000 doses @ $80
  Donated By:

• Pre- Natal Vitamins 2500 doses @ $100
  Donated By:

• Iron supplement 2000 doses @ $20
  Donated By:

• Vitamin A 1000 doses @ $70
  Donated By:

DENTAL HYGIENE:

• Toothpaste  100 tubes @ $25, need 500 tubes @ $125
  Donated By:

At Sights on Health, this mission is personal. We’re a volunteer-powered 501(c)(3) delivering cataract surgery and medical care to communities with limited access in South America—working shoulder-to-shoulder with local partners to restore sight and expand care.

Proof that access changes everything

• Since 2012, our volunteer surgical team has performed 825+ sight-restoring cataract surgeries—each one a patient gaining back independence, livelihood, and connection.

• In 2024, our Peru mission provided 78 cataract surgeries and hundreds of adult and pediatric medical visits—because vision is part of whole-person health.

• In 2025, we joined forces with FIBUSPAM Hospital in Riobamba, Ecuador, alongside SEE International, to deliver life-changing care in both urban and remote communities.  SoH performed 91 cataract surgeries, surpassing the team’s original goal.  SEE International

With your help, we’ll keep putting people at the heart of eye care, Consider a contribution to the cause, click here.

We also had a patient travel with another local non-profit from the Amazon forest. Originally, there were three patients, all who were practically blind. As they were preparing to travel to FIBUSPAM for the cataract surgery, they were persuaded by their village shaman that he could restore their vision with herbs and rituals. Luckily, one of them decided to come for the surgery instead. After surgery, the small group was hosted overnight by Olga, one of the managers at the hospital. We would soon find out the next day that his sight was restored.

After some much needed coffee, we were pumped for the rest of the day… especially with the anticipation of getting to watch GAME 1 of the Knicks vs. Pacers at a local burger bar after a long day of surgeries!

The Medical/Pediatric team had a super productive day as well. Dozens of patients were already in line when they arrived at the site. After a short setup, it was GAME ON!

It was a day full of surprises! The team diagnosed a child with a fall-on-outstretched-hand (FOOSH) injury that had happened over a week ago. His joint was swollen, painful, and limited in its movement. The child was placed in a sling and brought to FIBUSPAM hospital, where they found he had a significant fracture. Despite financial difficulty, he was supported and treated and is now in full recovery.

The icing on the cake would have been if the Knicks had won! LOL

Day 2 was quite a day! 21 cataract surgeries. A 25-year-old had his first eye done. He was basically blind in both eyes. We would see the next day that the surgery was successful and plan for his other eye.

• OR Room 1 – Dr. Michael Sable, Dr. David Krebs, Nurse Lorena Chinchilla, and super OR Tech Julia Colmenares.
• OR  Room 2 – Dr. Jose Davila, Nurse Jeffery Sieker, Nurse Priscilla Salvaggjo, and Nurse Sashi Mutterja.
• Peri-Op – Dr. Joseph Ng, Dr. Juan Morales, Dr. Casey Bunge, Dr. Debra Messina, Gabrielle Chinchilla, Nurse Melissa Monaghan, and Ambar Ruiz MS.
• Registration – Andrew Maggiolo, Esther Stavrou, Frances Ng, and Gina Fernandez.
• Sterilization – THE MAN… Kenneth Roberts!

WHAT A TEAM!!!

The Medical/Pediatric team saw 74 adult patients, 14 pediatric patients, and 86 optometry patients. Huge successes! Taking care of conditions that we take for granted. Conditions that we diagnose and treat in days afflict our neighbors and patients in Ecuador for weeks and months. The team traveled for over an hour and arrived at Llinllin village, where they unpacked boxes and suitcases of medications.

• Our drug dealer and pharmacist was Jessica Czechowski.
• Translators – Sofia Carranza, Olivia Lao, and Frances Alvarado-Lao.
• Medical Team – Dr. Mahmood Yaseen, Nurse Christina Carmi, Dr. George Coritsidis, Dr. Iryna Ilyasova, Josue Merida MS, Nurse Kati Giacobbe, Nurse Maggie Triller, Dr. Manu Dwivedi, and Dr. Varvara Boryskina.
• Pediatric Team – Dr. Alberto Carranza and Nurse Luke Milano.
• 

May 16-23, 2025
Flights: Round trip  JFK-Quito, Ecuador
We are accepting donations to our paypal to cover the coast of airfare for the team.

Volunteers needed

Medicine team: they will travel to communities for 4 to 5 days

• 3-4 MDS of various specialties
• 1-2RNs
• 1pharmacist
• 1 optometrist & 1 ophthalmic tech
• 1-2 medical residents & 1-2  medical students
• 1 administrative assistant
• 2 translators

Surgical Eye Team: the surgical patients will have already been selected, the team will operate out of Fibuspam Hospital

•  2-3 ophthalmic surgeons
•  2-3 RNSs or CSTs for OR with ophthalmic experience
•  2-3 floaters for OR
•  1 ophthalmology resident
•  1-2 anesthesiologists or critical care physicians
•  1 preop/postop RN
•  1 sterilization tech
•  1 administrative assistant
•  2 translators

There will be an opportunity to visit the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon or hiking Cotopaxi after the mission is completed. There will be a travel agent who can guide you through the process. Otherwise, you can return with the main group on May 23rd.

If you are interested in joining the Sights on Health team, please email Dr. Debra Messina for an application no later than 12/3/2024 Thank you!

Our mission concluded May 24, Sights on Health was able to perform a total of 78 cataract surgeries, 6 yag laser posterior capsulotomy ( removal of secondary cataract ) and 1 pterygium excision. These sight restoring procedures were done as part of this extraordinary 2024 mission to Peru In addition, we saw 250 adults and pediatric patients, and the medical team was able to help diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses and diseases. That’s over 325 lives we’ve been able to impact because of the Sights On Health team, the FNE International team, and the Asociación Wiñaypaq Pro Desarrollo Humano team. We have had a collaborative effort between our nonprofit organizations since 2012.

Many thanks to all of your participates and supporters!

Our mission concluded May 24, Sights on Health was able to perform a total of 78 cataract surgeries, 6 yag laser posterior capsulotomy ( removal of secondary cataract ) and 1 pterygium excision. These sight restoring procedures were done as part of this extraordinary 2024 mission to Peru In addition, we saw 250 adults and pediatric patients, and the medical team was able to help diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses and diseases. That’s over 325 lives we’ve been able to impact because of the Sights On Health team, the FNE International team, and the Asociación Wiñaypaq Pro Desarrollo Humano team. We have had a collaborative effort between our nonprofit organizations since 2012.

Many thanks to all of your participates and supporters!

On our 10th Anniversary trip to Calca, Peru. Our first after the pandemic. We screened over 90 patients and took 50 of them to the operating room to give them back one of the 5 senses we take for granted every morning when we open our eyes… sight. Every member of the team dedicated not only their vacation time but also their hard earned cash to fund their participation. Even then, and with close to $70,000 of donated cataract surgical supplies from Alcon & Surgical EyeExpeditions, Sights On Health with the assistance of our generous donors, spends more than $24,000 to help those less fortunate. Last but not least we wanted to give a shout out to our very gracious supporters for all you do for us to make this mission possible!

A dozen obstacles overcome and another dozen of patients DONE! Restored sight to 12 very special patients! And our very first patient of this mission came back for her next day follow up! Look at that smile! Thank you to all of our supporters. With your kindness we can really help those less fortunate!

Day 2 Pre-op evaluations and sterilization area This is a great team!

Day 3 – Smooth day in the OR but so many patients evaluated today in the screening area! It was a wild day of bus loads of people coming in to be screened from mountain communities with NO resources! Shout out to our screening team! Dave Krebs, Ana, Jhon, Andy, Flo, George, Tatiana, Cipoletti, Vero, and Jessica! Bam Bam Bam! All taken care of!

Day 4 - in Calca, Peru. 88 patients evaluated and 50 patients went to the OR. There were some hairy times… and some great high fives. For all our past, present and future supporters… this is where your love lifts people up!!!

Shout out! – Today’s shout out goes to the administrative team that organizes this. Although we are but a small part of this whole organization, they work tirelessly year round to make this happen. Without our surgical team (mentioned on Tuesday) and our screening and registration team (mentioned on Weds) we would do nothing…

The admin team starts with Dr Debra Messina, our fearless president. Dr Joseph Ng, VP, Andy Maggiolo, Treasurer, Kenneth Roberts, Secretary, Dr George Coritsidis,Board Member, James Rienzo, Board Member, and Michael Sable Surgical Director. Dr. Frilo Silva from Cusco, Peru who has donated time and loaned us the equipment to make this possible and Dr Francisco Morales who, through his contacts helped spread the word and help us get our logistics planned out. FNE International, who was our boots on the ground who help cut through a lot of the bureaucracy.

Day 5 – It’s a wrap!!! We are done and packed as of early this afternoon… now to relax a bit, sight see and celebrate that we did some good in this world with all of our supporters help. Thank you all and see you all back home!