Mission Work at the Zimba Eye Clinic
For more than a decade, Douglas F. Buxton, MD has been committed to advancing global eye health through his work at the International Vision Volunteers (IVV) Zimba Eye Clinic in Zambia. Driven by a belief in equitable access to care, Dr. Buxton’s mission trips have brought essential surgical expertise, compassionate care, and life-changing vision restoration to underserved communities across Southern Africa.
Transforming Lives Through Surgical Outreach
In partnership with IVV and local medical teams, Dr. Buxton has led Eight surgical missions to the Zimba Eye Clinic, providing care to hundreds of patients who would otherwise have no access to specialty ophthalmic services. His work has included:
- Performing high-volume cataract and corneal transplant surgeries, restoring sight to patients blinded by preventable or treatable conditions.
- Donating critical microsurgical instruments, diagnostic tools, and supplies that have helped build the clinic’s capacity to serve patients year-round.
- Mentoring and training local ophthalmologists and surgical staff to strengthen sustainable, long-term eye care delivery in the region.
Sustained Impact and Global Health Commitment
Through his efforts, Dr. Buxton along with his wife, Diana Buxton, has personally contributed to over 500 medical interventions at the Zimba Eye Clinic—many of which were sight-saving surgeries that allowed patients to return to work, care for families, and re-engage with their communities.
His mission work in Zambia exemplifies the values of the Jorge N. Buxton, MD and Douglas F. Buxton, MD Microsurgical Educational Foundation: advancing surgical excellence, expanding global access to care, and investing in future generations of caregivers.
Vision Restoration in the Dominican Republic: Missions to Hospital Plaza de la Salud
Over the past five years, Douglas F. Buxton, MD has led a series of impactful Vision Restoration Missions to Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic—one of the region’s most respected medical institutions. These missions, driven by a deep commitment to sight-saving care, have brought high-level ophthalmic surgery to patients in urgent need.
Delivering Specialized Surgical Care
Working alongside local physicians and hospital staff, Dr. Buxton has performed complex cataract and retina surgeries, restoring vision to patients suffering from advanced eye disease. His volunteer teams have:
- Provided high-volume surgical services to patients with little or no access to specialty care.
- Donated surgical instruments, lenses, and disposables, enabling long-term use beyond the mission itself.
- Helped train local ophthalmologists and residents, strengthening clinical capacity and skills development within the hospital’s surgical program.
Empowering Patients, Supporting Systems
These missions have restored independence and dignity to hundreds of individuals—from elderly patients losing their sight to young adults eager to reenter the workforce or education. The impact extends beyond the OR, contributing to long-term system resilience and collaboration between U.S. and Dominican ophthalmic teams.
As the Jorge N. Buxton, MD and Douglas F. Buxton, MD Microsurgical Educational Foundation continues to expand its international outreach, the work in Santo Domingo remains a cornerstone of its mission to ensure that vision-saving surgery is not a privilege, but a right.
