10 of the best songs about sight and seeing

What are the top songs for eye health, the best tunes about seeing or the greatest tracks for vision? We’ve wondered that ourselves from time to time and come up with a playlist of great music for eyes, sight, and seeing. Take a look and let us know what you think...

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I can see clearly now
Amazing Grace
Eyesight to the blind
Doctor my eyes
Beginning to see the light
Bright eyes
I'd love just once to see you
Sound and vision
Sight for sore eyes
See you again

1. "I can see clearly now" By Jimmy Cliff

The lyrics of "I can see clearly now", with a positive view towards the future, mirror what we see so often in our sight-restoring work and make this such a great feelgood tune.

2. "Amazing Grace" By Gurrumul and Paul Kelly

"I once was blind but now I see." We've seen that transformation millions of times over The Foundation's 30 years and we'll never get tired of it. This beautiful version by two Australian musical treasures is a perfect fit for Fred.

3. "Eyesight to the blind" by The Who

"Eyesight to the blind" is almost The Foundation's mission statement. It's also a cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's blues hit from 1951 recorded for the 1969 rock opera Tommy.

4. "Doctor my eyes" by Jackson Browne

"Doctor, my eyes. Tell me what is wrong." Ophthalmologists around the world must hear this time and again. You also can't help but tap your feet to this early '70s tune.

5. "Beginning to see the light" by Velvet Underground

"I'm beginning to see the light" conjures up images of a young child like Cesaria from Burundi when she gets the first peek of light through the edges of the eye patches put on her to protect her eyes after cataract surgery. Her joyous laughter at that moment is truly special.

6. "Bright eyes" by Art Garfunkel

"How can the light that burned so brightly suddenly burn so pale?" When taken literally, it's something our work aims to reverse as we help restore clear sight and return those 'bright eyes'. This song may have made you cry while watching Watership Down, but its beauty makes it a classic no matter how you look at it.

7. "I'd love just once to see you" by The Beach Boys

Sometimes we meet a parent who has never seen their child or a grandparent who has never seen a grandchild. When our sight-restoring work allows them to see their loved ones for the first time, the emotion can be immense, like the sentiment of this song.

8. "Sound and Vision" by David Bowie

"Don't you wonder sometimes about sound and vision?" Sight does seem wondrous, most especially to those who have experienced eye health issues and recovered full vision.

9. "Sight for sore eyes" by M People

Trachoma is an eye disease that, if left untreated, can lead to the eyelashes turning inwards and repeatedly scratching the eye. The pain is excruciating and the people with trichiasis who we help treat are relieved to be able to see without the pain. So "A sight for sore eyes," is a sentiment we love!

10. "See you again" by Wiz Khalida ft. Charlie Puth

So many of our patients talk about the thing they most want after eye surgery is to see a loved one again, whether it's a partner, a child or a grandchild. "I'll tell you all about it when I see you again" seems to capture that desire perfectly.

COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Hugh Rutherford

Trachoma’s grip on Semira’s life

In a small village in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, Semira’s life had been filled with the joys and challenges of raising her children – until her world became consumed by pain and fear because of trachoma.