Restoring Sight. Changing Lives. Around the Corner and Across the World.
Graystone Eye Missions (501(c)(3)) is the charitable outreach arm of Graystone Eye, mobilizing physicians, staff, and community to provide free vision care and sight-restoring surgery to underserved populations locally and abroad.
Our Calling
At Graystone Eye, caring for others goes beyond the walls of our clinics. Through our nonprofit organization, Graystone Eye Missions (a 501(c)(3)), our physicians and staff volunteer their time and expertise to bring sight-restoring care to those who need it most—both here in Western North Carolina and in underserved communities around the world.
Our mission is simple: to preserve the gift of sight and improve lives — one patient, one community at a time.
Global Vision. Local Compassion.
For decades, the Graystone Eye team has shared its skills, compassion, and resources with communities in need.
- International Outreach:
In June 2025, two teams of Graystone physicians and volunteers traveled to Bolivia, partnering with Consejo de Salud Rural Andino to provide free cataract and eye surgeries. Over the course of two weeks, our team treated 510 patients and performed 108 sight-restoring surgeries — offering new hope and vision to individuals who might otherwise have gone without care.
These missions reflect the heart of Graystone’s philosophy: combining advanced medical skill with a deep commitment to humanitarian service. - Local Impact:
Graystone Eye Missions also serves communities across Western North Carolina, offering free or subsidized cataract surgeries for qualified patients in collaboration with the North Carolina Blind Commission at our Hickory surgery center.
Beyond medical care, our team organizes employee-led community drives supporting local nonprofits like Safe Harbor and contributes essential items — hygiene kits, cleaning supplies, and clothing — to families in need.
Our Impact - By the Numbers
| Patients Treated | Surgeries Performed | Community Drives | Lives Changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 510 During Bolivia mission (June 2025) |
108 Sight-restoring procedures |
5+ Employee-led supply & relief drives |
Countless Patients, families & communities |
Mission Stories
“Restoring sight is always meaningful — but doing so among people who have no other options is profoundly humbling.”
— Dr. Joshua Paschall, MD, Graystone Eye
Our mission trips blend surgical excellence with heartfelt connection. From screening patients in rural villages to performing delicate cataract procedures and sharing moments of gratitude with families, each mission reminds us that vision truly transforms lives.
Even when international travel was halted during COVID-19, our dedication never stopped. The Graystone team continued its outreach locally — providing surgeries for North Carolinians in need and supporting relief efforts through donations and drives.
Community Engagement
Our calling to serve extends right here at home.
- Safe Harbor Drives: Collecting personal care and household essentials for women and families in transition.
- Samaritan’s Purse: Donating safety glasses for volunteers aiding hurricane recovery efforts.
- Local Outreach: Partnering with area nonprofits to support eye health education and community wellness initiatives.
At Graystone, mission work isn’t an event — it’s a culture. Every staff member is encouraged to contribute time, skills, or resources to make our region a better place to live and see.
Latest Mission News
Hickory, NC — At Graystone Eye, our mission to preserve the gift of sight extends far beyond the walls of our clinics and surgery center. This past June, that mission took us more than 3,500 miles away to Bolivia, where we partnered with Consejo de Salud Rural Andino, a local eye care practice committed to improving access to vision care in rural communities.
Hickory, NC: Graystone Eye is proud to support the ongoing relief efforts in the North Carolina high country following Hurricane Helene. To assist volunteers working tirelessly to clean up the damage, Graystone Eye has donated a generous supply of safety glasses to Samaritans Purse.
Hickory, NC (August 1, 2024): The dedication and compassion of Graystone Eye employees are at the heart of an expanded supply drive to support multiple local organizations assisting individuals in need.
