About Us

The inspiration for Loupes Around The World came after a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia in December 2006. In Phnom Penh, I (DCK) met Dr. Ly Heng, a plastic surgeon at Preah Kossamak Hospital; during our conversation, he told me about some of the remarkable reconstructive surgery he was performing on trauma victims. When I asked if he used magnification for this delicate surgery, he laughed and said that he could not possibly afford a pair of loupes. On the flight home, I thought about him, and the many surgeons in developing countries who must be in the same situation, and how much their patients could benefit if they had loupes for their work.

Surgical loupes are essentially magnifying glasses which allow the surgeon to see small delicate structures with more clarity than is possible with the naked eye, and thus with loupes they are able to dissect and repair structures more accurately. Loupes are used by virtually every specialty in surgery, including plastic/reconstructive, cardiac, neurosurgery, urology, orthopedics, vascular, pediatric surgery, and general surgery. In developed countries, loupes are considered to be a standard tool in the surgeon’s armamentarium. Because they require precise optics, however, they can be quite expensive, and unaffordable for many surgeons in developing countries.

With the help and encouragement of friends, Loupes Around The World was started in March 2007. We have worked with NGOs such as Operation Smile, Interplast, SIGN, and Madaktari to identify potential loupes recipients; additionally we receive referrals from other surgeons as well as individual requests. As of January 2010, we have provided loupes to over 100 surgeons in more than 40 countries around the world.

We have been fortunate in developing a partnership with Designs For Vision, Inc., a well-known and highly regarded manufacturer of loupes in the USA. Through them, we are able to provide superior, custom fitted loupes to potential recipient surgeons who are able to be measured and fitted in the USA. For other candidates, we provide high quality adjustable loupes; these have the advantage that they can be worn by different individuals working in the same hospital, such as in a teaching program.

Through our “Recoup The Loupes” program, we are able to recycle old loupes no longer being used by surgeons in North America. We have been recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 organization, and as such any old loupes donated to us are eligible for a tax deduction as a charitable contribution. If you would like further information about how to donate old loupes, please contact me at dcknight@loupesaroundtheworld.org.