About the Minnesota Eye Foundation
The Minnesota Eye Foundation (MEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created in 2005 to enrich the quality of life of individuals living throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota through charitable outreach, education, and research.
The organization directly supports:
- Charitable eye care services for uninsured, low-income individuals.
- The advancement of clinical knowledge and technologies through research and fellowship training.
- Continuing education for new and practicing ophthalmologists and optometrists.
As the organization enters its 20th year of service, MEF seeks to expand its charitable reach to include a network of ophthalmology and optometry practices. MEF will accomplish this by offering administrative support services related to creating and sustaining philanthropic programs and monetary grants to support charitable outreach in each practice’s local community.
Since 2004, volunteer surgeons have performed over 500 procedures ranging from cataract and glaucoma surgeries to very complex corneal and oculoplastic procedures. Annually, TVP assists roughly 30-35 uninsured, low-income individuals by eliminating not only the cost associated with surgical treatment, but also the costs of the initial evaluation and testing, anesthesia, surgical supplies, postoperative care and medications. The financial impact of these services is well over $75,000 each year, when compared to self-pay rates for those without insurance coverage.
The Vision Project is the Minnesota Eye Foundation’s longstanding charitable program and is a celebration of volunteerism. During the program’s annual two-day event, ophthalmologists perform no-cost cataract and glaucoma surgeries benefiting Minnesotans unable to afford care. The program is a volunteer effort supported by a group of optometrists, nurses, and anesthetists willing to donate their time and expertise to assist those less fortunate. The Foundation works to match eligible patients with volunteer surgeons and provides a financial stipend to subsidize the cost of supplies and equipment required for each procedure.
Watch to learn more about our 2025 Vision Project days.