Through a Father's Eyes: Celebrating the Gift of Sight This Father’s Day

It’s also a moment to pause and reflect on the life-changing experiences of fatherhood—like seeing your child for the very first time. But what if that moment were taken away by preventable sight loss?

At Orbis, we believe every parent deserves the chance to see their child’s expressions, watch them grow and change, and witness the moments—big and small—that shape their lives.

This Father’s Day, we spoke to two dads about the power of sight, the emotions of fatherhood, and how vision allows them to fully experience the journey of watching their children grow.

Jordan:
“Fear. Knowing that I'm responsible for a human being for the rest of their life—for the rest of my life. Love. You think you know love before you have a child, and then you see your child and that’s it. You realise you didn’t know anything like that before. It was the happiest moment of my life.
I was overcome with emotions. It’s a mix of elation, fear, excitement, exhaustion—all of it. And it all came out in floods of tears. Looking at them for the first time, I can’t think of enough superlatives to describe it.”

David:
“I felt ecstatic. My daughter, Kitty Rose, is my third child, and all three were conceived via IVF, so they all felt like miracles. What made it even more special was having my eldest daughter there to witness the moment.
It was probably the greatest moment of my life—alongside the births of my other two.”

Jordan:
“I have a lot of sympathy for my own parents now—realising how much of a handful I must have been. I spent a third of my childhood in hospital from injuries. Watching my own child run around now is terrifying.
Every day they change. My daughter just turned two and is reciting the alphabet. My son just started crawling. You never get to pause—the milestones keep coming. You just hold your breath and enjoy them.”

David:
“I wasn’t always sure I’d have children—it was my partner who felt strongly about it. But the moment my first child arrived, everything else in life was eclipsed. I felt totally different, like I had a new purpose: to love and care for not just my partner, but our children.
I've spoken to other dads, and I think many feel the same—completely overtaken by the experience. It's life-changing.”

Jordan:
“I can’t imagine how difficult it would be without sight. Especially today, with so many things to worry about—just the idea of not being able to keep an eye on your child is terrifying. I struggle walking with a stroller through crowds and I have good eyes. It makes me think how tough it must be for someone without that privilege. It’s something we take for granted.”

David:
“Life without sight is hard to even imagine. Sight is such a crucial part of how we experience the world. I've known people without sight, but I never truly understood how much it must impact daily life.
Being able to see your child grow—their expressions, their steps, their laughter—it’s a gift I wouldn’t want to lose.”

Everyday, new dads experience the unforgettable joys of meeting their children for the first time. Whether it’s a quiet tear in a hospital room, or a wide-eyed stare at a tiny hand wrapped around a finger, these moments unite fathers across cultures and continents.

For millions of fathers around the world, the gift of sight is something they can’t take for granted. Avoidable blindness still robs too many parents of the chance to see their children grow up. Orbis is committed to changing that.

Through cutting-edge technology, training for local eye care teams, and life-changing surgeries, Orbis brings hope and clarity to families around the world. From restoring sight to training doctors in low-income countries, our mission is simple: no one should go blind from a preventable cause.

This Father’s Day, join us in celebrating not just the bond between parent and child, but the vision that brings it to life.