▁causes ▁of ▁blind ness . ▁ ▁The ▁organisation ▁summar ised ▁its ▁mission ▁in ▁its ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁report ▁to ▁don ors . ▁ ▁" Operation ▁E yes ight ▁Universal ▁is ▁committed ▁to ▁helping ▁its ▁ind igen ous ▁medical ▁partners ▁build ▁the ▁compreh ensive , ▁high ▁quality ▁infrastr ucture ▁and ▁programs ▁necessary ▁to ▁meet ▁the ▁present ▁and ▁future ▁eye ▁care ▁needs ▁of ▁their ▁own ▁people . ▁These ▁partners ▁are ▁encourag ed ▁to ▁analyze ▁their ▁needs ▁and ▁develop ▁plans ▁of ▁action . ▁Fin an cial ▁don ors ▁make ▁it ▁possible ▁to ▁provide ▁the ▁essential ▁resources ▁to ▁develop ▁or ▁improve ▁services ." ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Dr ▁Ben ▁G ull ison , ▁a ▁Canadian ▁phys ician , ▁inspired ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁" Operation ▁E yes ight ▁Universal " ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 3 , ▁in ▁Cal g ary , ▁Al berta . ▁G ull ison ▁had ▁been ▁working ▁in ▁Som p eta , ▁in ▁east ▁India . ▁He ▁returned ▁to ▁Canada ▁to ▁seek ▁fund ing ▁to ▁reduce ▁the ▁pre val ence ▁of ▁cat ar act . ▁He ▁met ▁Arthur ▁J enk yn s , ▁a ▁Cal g ary ▁business man , ▁who ▁founded ▁Operation ▁E yes ight ▁to ▁support ▁Dr . ▁Ben ' s ▁mission ▁to ▁er ad icate ▁avoid able ▁blind ness . ▁ ▁Mission ▁ ▁Over ▁ 2 8 5 ▁million ▁people ▁in ▁the ▁world ▁are ▁vis ually ▁imp a ired . ▁ 3 9 ▁million ▁are ▁blind ▁and ▁ 2 4 6 ▁million ▁have ▁low ▁vision . ▁ 8 0 ▁percent