• Ophthalmology volunteer programs are shifting from episodic “missions” to partnership-based capacity building. • Quality and effective coverage indicators (eCSC/eREC) enable outcomes-focused program evaluation. • High-volume cataract and outreach models can achieve good outcomes but follow-up and refractive error remain key gaps. • Remote mentorship, teleophthalmology, and AI can extend training and triage, but require infrastructure and governance. Avoidable vision loss remains concentrated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Ophthalmology volunteers as individual clinicians and organized teams have long contributed to outreach services, surgical camps, training, and systems strengthening. Recent global policy moves emphasize integration of eye care within health systems and monitoring effective coverage and quality. At the same time, portability, telemedicine, and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping what is feasible in community and rural eye care. We conducted a narrative review of PubMed/PMC, major ophthalmology journals, WHO/IAPB resources, and selected NGO program reports (latest search: 31 Jan 2026). We synthesized evidence on (1) volunteer activities and trends; (2) clinical, economic, and social impact; (3) quality, safety, and ethics; (4) examination tools enabling volunteer work in LMICs, including portable devices, telemedicine workflows, and AI-assisted diagnosis. Volunteers commonly engage in cataract outreach, refractive services, neglected tropical disease platforms, pediatric/retinopathy of prematurity and diabetic retinopathy screening, and crucially training and mentorship. Strong outcomes are achievable when outreach adheres to WHO outcome benchmarks and structured follow-up. A growing body of evidence supports portable anterior segment imaging systems in resource-limited contexts. Teleophthalmology studies show that remote review of images can improve referral appropriateness and expand access. AI models can support automated grading and referrals. These tools can extend volunteer impact when embedded in locally led care pathways with governance and validation. The center of gravity in ophthalmology volunteering is shifting from short missions toward long-term partnerships, training, routine outcomes monitoring, and integration with national eye care pathways. Portable examination tools, telemedicine, and selective AI can improve triage, continuity, and quality assurance, but must be deployed with attention to safety, equity, privacy, and local capacity.
Shimizu et al. (Fri,) studied this question.