Vision 1000 was launched by John Keells in June 2004 with the aim of restoring the eyesight of 1000 deserving cataract patients around the island. The project, aligned with the World Health Organisation’s "Vision 2020" Project was executed via Base Hospitals in each province. Eye camps have been conducted in Avissawella, Matale, Maraka, Hambantota, Kantale, Vasgamuwa Mahiyanganaya, Horana, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Karawita and 1088 operations were completed as at 31 March 2006.

The project selects remote communities who have little access to health facilities and lack the financial strength to purchase lenses, which cost about Rs. 4,000/- to 7,000/- each. Selection of patients for operations based on their income levels, was at the discretion of the Eye Surgeon at each Base Hospital. When organizing eye camps, the Foundation also takes efforts to involve community institutions such as temples to ensure greater participation and effectiveness.

John Keells Holdings Director and John Keells Social Responsibility Foundation Head, Sumithra Gunesekera, said: "We focused on cataract operations after discovering that it is one of the primary causes of blindness in Sri Lanka. What is more staggering is that 95 per cent of cataract patients can be cured if they are given timely surgical attention. Often, the deterrent in seeking medical attention is the expense involved and thousands of Sri Lankans face unemployment as a result of blindness brought on by cataract. The John Keells Social Responsibility Foundation is happy to have touched the lives of over 1000 people by helping them regain their sight and thereby their productivity."

The success of the project and the overwhelming response received has motivated the Foundation to continue the project into the next year, with 500 more cataract operations planned in the twelve months to 31 March 2007. The project will target the plantation community in particular during the coming year. Vision 1000 will also distribute spectacles among 150 deserving students. In addition, the Foundation plans to print awareness literature for distribution at eye camps. In a parallel project, the John Keells Social Responsibility Foundation has also donated twelve telescopes, magnifiers, and reading aids to patients at the low vision clinic of the Colombo Eye Hospital.