The “I” in I Care San antonio serves as a reminder of the impact one person can make.

Dr. Robert A. Rice, a comprehensive ophthalmologist and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, has been faithfully caring for the people of San Antonio since 1985. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Tulane Medical School, Dr. Rice completed his ophthalmology residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center and served for 13 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring from the reserves in 1993 as a Lieutenant Colonel. His clinical expertise spans state-of-the-art cataract surgery, including multifocal IOLs, as well as glaucoma and diabetic eye care.

Dr. Rice’s devotion to humanitarian service took root in 1987 when he joined his first international mission trip with Medical Missions International. Inspired by the profound need he witnessed, he continued these trips across Mexico and South America. But as the years passed, he began to ask: What about those in need right here at home?

Dr. Rice, along with his close friend Doug Radcliffe and a group of fellow members from Covenant Presbyterian Church, founded I Care San Antonio. Their goal was to provide compassionate and comprehensive eye care—not just abroad, but to low income and homeless individuals in San Antonio. The “I” in I Care San Antonio serves as a reminder of the impact one person can make.

The group officially incorporated as a nonprofit, with a mission to restore sight and hope to those who could not otherwise afford it. By 1995, Dr. Rice had launched outreach clinics along the U.S.-Mexico border in Piedras Negras, Nuevo Laredo, and Ciudad Acuña. These mobile missions, held three times a year, brought vision care, cataract surgeries, and donated glasses to thousands.

Following Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Rice and the I Care San Antonio team stepped up again—this time at Kelly USA in San Antonio, where they cared for over 3,100 displaced individuals. With the help of Luxottica’s Gift of Sight Foundation, they provided more than 3,000 pairs of glasses to those in need.

I Care San Antonio had grown to include 15 rotating volunteer eye doctors. That year, they were invited to become a lead agency at Haven for Hope, San Antonio’s nationally recognized campus for individuals experiencing homelessness. Through a tremendous fundraising effort, more than $1.3 million raised from foundations, corporations, churches, and individual donors, the I Care San Antonio clinic was ready. This facility included eight exam rooms, a clinical operating room, three lasers, and advanced diagnostic equipment.

In 2024, Dr. Rice and Mr. Radcliffe helped secure a transformative $4.1 million grant that made possible the purchase and renovation of the new I Care San Antonio Vision Center. Opened in September, this state-of-the-art facility houses the latest technology and, more importantly, a dedicated team committed to restoring sight and hope.

Today, I Care San Antonio is powered by more than 40 volunteer eye care providers—including specialists in retina, glaucoma, pediatrics, and cornea—who each donate a half-day of service every month. Since its founding, I Care San Antonio has served over 58,000 patients, performed over 5,700 surgeries, and dispensed more than 45,000 pairs of glasses or optical vouchers.

The organization's reach continues to grow—both locally and globally. Through its international medical ministry, Dr. Rice continues to lead annual mission trips to Arequipa, Peru.