BBH Eye Foundation has launched a new humanitarian initiative to provide ballistic-rated protective eyewear to frontline responders in Ukraine, where traumatic eye injuries are rising sharply amid modern warfare. In partnership with Eye Care for Ukraine, the effort aims to prevent avoidable blindness by supplying critical PPE to those risking their lives every day.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- BBH Eye Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to restoring sight and preventing blindness in underserved regions, today announced a new humanitarian initiative to protect the vision of first responders in Ukraine. As part of the initiative, BBH has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with fellow 501(c)(3) nonprofit Eye Care for Ukraine to support the procurement and distribution of ballistic-rated protective eyewear for frontline personnel in high-risk areas across Ukraine.
Modern warfare has dramatically increased the prevalence of traumatic eye injuries, with so-called "double tap" attacks—repeated strikes on the same target—causing severe harm to medics, emergency crews, and other humanitarian responders. As noted in BBH co-founder Gary Barth's recent essay, , eye trauma is among the most common injuries in modern combat zones, often resulting in irreversible blindness. Protective eyewear, though relatively inexpensive, is in alarmingly short supply in Ukraine.
"I care deeply about first responders," said Barth, an ophthalmic surgeon with over 25 years of humanitarian fieldwork. "When I learned many of Ukraine's frontline heroes were going without basic eye protection, I knew we could help. Protecting sight isn't just about restoring vision; it's about preventing loss before it happens. These first responders are risking everything, and this is one small way we can stand with them. I hope others will join us in supporting this urgent mission."
Through this collaboration, BBH will source and fund the delivery of certified ballistic protective eyewear to Eye Care for Ukraine, which will oversee on-the-ground distribution to first responders with the greatest need. The initial grant, formalized in the MOU, launches a pilot phase designed to scale, with the first shipment of lenses slated for distribution in August 2025, with additional rounds to follow based on logistical learnings and product feedback from frontline responders.
"Teaming up with BBH Eye Foundation has been a powerful alignment of purpose," said Brian True, founder of Eye Care for Ukraine. "On the front lines, we see every day how preventable vision loss doesn't just affect the individual: it reverberates through families, communities, and entire nations for a lifetime. To partner with a like-minded organization that understands the urgency and is taking action to address it is both rare and deeply meaningful."
In a follow-up post, , Barth highlights alarming data indicating eye injuries now account for up to 15% of battlefield trauma cases, many of which are preventable with appropriate personal protective equipment. These injuries reflect not only a lack of protection but a pressing need for coordinated, preventive action.
With this initiative, BBH builds on its core mission of addressing curable blindness by expanding into preventative protection for those at risk in Ukraine. BBH remains focused on improving access to compassionate, professional eye care—and now, preserving sight before it's lost.
To help protect the vision of those risking everything on the front lines, donate at .
About BBH Eye Foundation
BBH Eye Foundation is a nonprofit humanitarian organization dedicated to eradicating curable blindness and expanding access to compassionate, professional eye care in underserved communities. Founded in 2019, BBH has helped enable over 200,000 free cataract surgeries across Southeast Asia and built sustainable infrastructure through a network of Primary Eye Care Centers (PECCs), with its 30th PECC launching in rural Himalayan Nepal in 2025.
With the launch of its first European initiative in Ukraine, BBH has evolved its mission to include providing protective eyewear to first responders at risk of traumatic eye injury, preserving sight before it's lost. Whether through prevention or treatment, BBH remains committed to restoring vision, dignity, and opportunity for those most in need. Learn more or donate at .
About Eye Care for Ukraine
Eye Care for Ukraine is a humanitarian organization dedicated to delivering essential vision services and equipment to the people of Ukraine, particularly those displaced or injured by war. Since 2022, the nonprofit has coordinated mobile clinics, distributed critical ophthalmic supplies, and facilitated cross-border partnerships to bring eye care to the front lines of the crisis. The organization is also providing cornea bio-implants to Ukraine while working to develop additional eye banking services in the country. More at .
Media Contact
Courtney Cochran, BBH Eye Foundation, 1 5105023926, [email protected],
SOURCE BBH Eye Foundation
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