First published October 29, 2025 by Cure Blindness Project
Dr. Lloyd B. Williams, MD, PhD, recipient of the 2025 American Academy of Ophthalmology Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award, embodies selflessness and dedication in his mission to restore sight worldwide.
A long-time volunteer with Cure Blindness Project, Dr. Williams has spent nearly two decades providing free eye care in underserved regions, including South Sudan, Sierra Leone and Central America. His quiet humility and unwavering commitment have transformed countless lives, yet he remains reluctant to boast about his achievements.
“Dr. Lloyd Williams is the last person who’d tell you he’s won an award,” says Chris Hildreth, a photographer and friend who often accompanies him on missions to South Sudan. “He lives by principles that prioritize others. No sacrifice is too great if it means helping more people see.”
Hildreth recalls their travels—cramped plane rides to South Sudan and nights on creaky cots in Sierra Leone, serenaded by bats bumping against mosquito netting. Dr. Williams takes it in stride, reminding Chris that “every dollar saved means someone else is able to see.” His frugality ensures resources go directly to patient care.
Since 2008, Dr. Williams has performed hundreds of cataract surgeries and corneal transplants annually. In 2021, he made history by performing Sierra Leone’s first corneal transplant, a milestone in global ophthalmology. His work extends beyond surgery; in South Sudan, he leads Cure Blindness Project initiatives, training local surgeons and developing educational programs for ophthalmic nursing and ophthalmology. These efforts empower communities to sustain high-quality eye care long after his visits.
Dr. Williams’ passion for teaching is as profound as his surgical skill. “He’s driven to share his knowledge,” Hildreth notes. “He’s not just restoring sight—he’s building systems so others can continue this work.” His humility shines through in his reluctance to share his own story, but when he learned of the AAO award, Hildreth says it “legitimized him and placed him among peers he’s long admired.”
He’s not just restoring sight—he’s building systems so others can continue this work.
– Chris Hildreth, RoosterMedia, photographer
Dr. Williams’ approach is tireless. “Wherever he goes, he hits the ground running, eager to spend every possible minute in the operating room,” Hildreth adds. His high-volume cataract surgical outreaches in South Sudan provide sight-restoring care to hundreds in a single trip.
This humble humanitarian gives unselfishly, using his expertise to uplift communities and train the next generation of eye care professionals. Dr. Lloyd Williams is a leader to emulate, whose legacy is measured in the countless lives he’s transformed through the gift of sight. Thank you, Dr. Williams, for your decades of service with Cure Blindness Project and your enduring impact on global eye care.
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Watch this video about Dr. Williams’ work in South Sudan:
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