A South African foundation built to restore sight with dignity.
CJ Memorial Eye Foundation is raising donor support to build a pathway for cataract and cornea surgeries for people who cannot afford private care.
The Foundation’s vision is rooted in one man’s personal journey with sight loss and his commitment to helping others.
From crisis to calling.
Founder: Subramoney “Vanny” Joganna
CJ Memorial Eye Foundation was established on 23 August 2022, but the vision behind it began decades earlier through Vanny’s own lived experience with eye complications.
Vanny has lived with eye complications since birth. In October 1975, he experienced sudden, total blindness. Although his vision partially returned within hours, no diagnosis could explain what had happened — even after thorough examinations and scans.
This life-altering episode led him to seek care, knowledge and understanding around the world. He became a regular outpatient at leading centres in Chennai and Coimbatore, India, where he met inspiring clinicians and researchers who helped shape his understanding of community eye care.
Over the years, with support from clients and friends in South Africa, Vanny helped fund more than 1,000 surgeries in India — giving hope and renewed vision to people in need.
Today, that experience is focused on South Africa. CJ Memorial Eye Foundation is raising donor support to build a pathway for cataract and cornea surgeries for people who cannot afford private care, with the long-term goal of working through accredited private hospitals and certified ophthalmologists as funding becomes available.
— Subramoney “Vanny” Joganna
A donor-funded pathway for future patient support.
The Foundation is currently focused on building donor support before opening full patient funding. This allows future patient support to be managed responsibly, transparently and in line with available resources.
Donor Support
Raising the funds needed to make future cataract and cornea surgeries possible for approved cases.
Clinical Review
Future support will depend on clinical need, available funding and partner capacity.
Trusted Partners
The long-term goal is to work with certified ophthalmologists and accredited private hospitals.
Help build the sight-restoration fund.
Your donation helps move CJ Memorial Eye Foundation closer to funding clinically reviewed cataract and cornea surgery cases for people who cannot afford private care.
Raising funds first. Supporting patients responsibly.
The Foundation is currently building its donation base before opening full patient funding. This ensures that future patient support can be handled responsibly, transparently and according to available resources.