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Help Me See INC

Public charity
Other · JERSEY CITY, NJ · EIN 27-3207754

About

Help me see INC., is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes in the united states and abroad within the meaning of sections 170(c)(2)(b) and 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended. Helpmesee is a global leader in combating cataract blindness, using innovative training to address this preventable condition. Its eye surgery simulator is a virtual reality device offering high-fidelity realism to train both novice and experienced surgeons in manual small incision cataract surgery (msics) and microsurgical skills. The simulator-based learning system (SBLS) features instructor-LED courses with standardized tasks and complications, allowing measurable performance scores and instructor feedback. This structured curriculum equips surgeons with the skills needed for msics, phacoemulsification, and complication management. By training proficient cataract specialists in msics, particularly in low resource settings, helpmesee enables cost-effective, high-quality treatments, improving outcomes for millions in underserved regions. The principal activities to accomplish the exempt purpose of helpmesee are: design, development, and deployment of virtual reality eye surgery simulator-based training system. Support a worldwide network of ophthalmology surgical training centers. Support workforce development of highly skilled eye surgeons in partnership with government, other NON-profits, training institutes, private organization and enable access to eye care to the most underserved communities. Cataract blindness affects over 100 million people globally, with the majority living in developing countries where a shortage of trained opthalmologists exacerbates the problem. In 23 countries, there are fewer than one opthalmologist PER million people, and it takes 5-7 years to train a single specialist. This GAP, driven by growing populations and aging demographics, will continue to widen, creating a long-term cataract surgical backlog. Additionally, the quality of cataract surgeries remains a significant concern, with over 10% of surgeries resulting in poor visual outcomes,m leading to severe economic, social, and health consequences. Improving surgical techniques is essential to mitigating these risks and ensuring better patient outcomes. Simulation-based surgical training offers a scalable solution to these challenges, enabling efficient training for larger groups of doctors in shorter timeframes without the need for live patients. This method reduces reliance on hazardous materials and consumables, making it an environmentally and economically sustainable alternative. The value of simulation-based training became particularly evident during the pandemic, when access to clinical instruction was restricted. Virtual reality training allowed medical professionals to continue their education safely, underscoring the growing role of simulators in bridging the GAP between traditional methods and modern digital learning technologies in global surgical education. What helpmesee AIMS to deliver: high-quality simulation-based cataract surgical training to meet the current and future demand for an estimated 30,000 plus cataract specialists required throughout the developing world. Promote the proven safe and affordable msics treatment to rapidly eliminate the backlog of several million cataract patients awaiting surgery. This will be accomplished with partnerships for simulation-based training with leading institutions around the globe for surgical training as well as advocacy.

Donations are tax-deductible
Category
Other
Employees
41
Volunteers
3

Financial Snapshot

FY ending 2024-12-31
Revenue
$18.8M
Expenses
$17.1M
Assets
$21.7M
Liabilities
$1.7M

Financial history

$26.5M$13.2M$0
161718192021222324
RevenueExpenses
Latest FY2024: $18.8M · Peak FY2018: $26.5M · Avg: $17.4M

Foreign activity (Schedule F)

Total spent abroad$10.0M
Foreign employees12
Foreign offices0
Foreign partnership interestNo
Foreign trust interestNo
RegionActivitySpent
SOUTH ASIA -INDIA
EAST ASIA- CHINA
EUROPE - NETHERLANDS, FRANCE, GERMANY, SWEDEN
NORTH AMERICA - CANADA AND MEXICO, BUT NOT THE UNITED STATES
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA- MADAGASCAR, NIGERIA

Political & Grant Activity

Campaign Spending
Lobbying
Grants Given
$2.5M
HELP ME SEE INC
Your actions

Address

1 Evertrust PLZ STE 308
Jersey City, NJ, 07302-308

Governance

Voting board members3
Independent members3
Conflict-of-interest policyYes
Whistleblower policyYes
Doc-retention policyYes
Audit committeeYes
990 reviewed by boardYes

Compensation practices

Severance paymentsYes
Equity-based compNo
Supplemental retirement planNo
Board approved compYes
Initial contract exceptionNo
Public records
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
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