Dr. John Downing, an ophthalmologist with over 60 years of experience, has dedicated his career to fighting preventable blindness worldwide through his work with Orbis International, training local doctors and funding vision centers in underserved regions.
Dr. John Downing, an 87-year-old ophthalmologist from Kentucky, has been transforming lives through sight-saving work with Orbis International since 1989. His journey with the organization began in Bangladesh, where he taught a simple manual cataract extraction technique that local doctors could perform with minimal equipment.
Throughout his six-decade career, Dr. Downing balanced running a private practice while serving as Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Vanderbilt University. His expertise in cataract surgery, intraocular lens implants, and refractive surgery has been shared with eye care professionals around the world through Orbis’ training programs.
The impact of Dr. Downing’s work extends beyond his hands-on teaching. Through the John E. and Sheryl M. Downing Family Charitable Foundation, he has funded numerous projects. One notable achievement is the establishment of a vision center in Huamachuco, Peru—a remote mountainous region where access to eye care was previously limited. This center now serves approximately 70,000 people and treats about 250 patients monthly.
Dr. Downing’s commitment to sustainable eye care is evident in his support of training initiatives. In Trujillo, Peru, he recently funded a five-day hospital training program focused on improving glaucoma treatment skills among local ophthalmologists and nurses. The program, conducted at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (IRO), addresses the critical need for specialized knowledge in treating glaucoma, the second-leading cause of blindness in Peru.
Beyond his financial contributions, Dr. Downing’s approach to patient care has left a lasting impression. He recalls performing cataract surgery on an 18-year-old woman in Ethiopia who had been blind for several years. “The look on her face when she could see was priceless, and I know that changed her life. I was able to follow up with her a couple of years later and she was back in school,” he shared in an interview with Orbis.
Looking ahead, Dr. Downing has committed to helping Orbis launch five more vision centers across Peru from 2025 through 2028, building on the success of the Huamachuco model.
“The Orbis model of working with doctors in their country and exchanging information with them I think is the most effective way that we can help improve eye care,” Dr. Downing said when describing Orbis’s approach. “It’s very gratifying to work somewhere and then come back a couple of years later and see that people are using the techniques you taught. That’s a lot of fun.”
Read the article about Dr. Downing’s volunteer work: Heroes of Orbis – Dr. John Downing
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