Ophthalmology is a surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders.
The Lions Eye Institute (LEI) is an Australian medical research institute affiliated with the University of Western Australia. It was established in 1983 with support of the Lions Clubs of Western Australia and headquartered in the Perth suburb of Nedlands, Western Australia. The LEI is a not-for-profit centre of excellence that combines an ophthalmic clinic with scientific discovery developing techniques for the prevention of blindness and the reduction of pain from blinding eye conditions.
An eye care professional (ECP) is an individual who provides a service related to the eyes or vision. It is any healthcare worker involved in eye care, from one with a small amount of post-secondary training to practitioners with a doctoral level of education.
Patricia Era Bath was an American ophthalmologist and humanitarian. She became the first female member of the Jules Stein Eye Institute, the first woman to lead a post-graduate training program in ophthalmology, and the first woman elected to the honorary staff of the UCLA Medical Center. Bath was the first African-American to serve as a resident in ophthalmology at New York University. She was also the first African-American woman to serve on staff as a surgeon at the UCLA Medical Center. Bath was the first African-American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical purpose. A holder of five patents, she founded the non-profit American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness in Washington, D.C.
Govindappa Venkataswamy, popularly known as Dr V., was an Indian ophthalmologist who dedicated his life to eliminate needless blindness. He was the founder and former chairman of Aravind Eye Hospitals. He is best known for developing a high quality, high volume, low-cost service delivery model that has restored sight to millions of people. Since inception, Aravind Eye Care System has seen over 55 million patients, and performed over 6.8 million surgeries. Over 50% of the organisation's patients pay either nothing or highly subsidised rates. Its scale and self-sustainability prompted a 1993 Harvard Business Case Study on the Aravind model.
Suseela Prabhakaran is an Indian ophthalmologist and chief ophthalmic surgeon at Divya Prabha Eye Hospital in Trivandrum, India. She started her career as a lecturer in ophthalmology in the Department of Medical Education at the state government of Kerala.
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE) is located at East 14th Street and Second Avenue in lower Manhattan, New York City. Founded on August 14, 1820, NYEE is America's first specialty hospital and one of the most prominent in the fields of ophthalmology and otolaryngology in the world, providing primary inpatient and outpatient care in those specialties. Previously affiliated with New York Medical College, as of 2013 it is affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as a part of the membership in the Mount Sinai Health System.
Operation Eyesight Universal is a Canada-based international development organization working to prevent blindness and restore sight. Founded in 1963 in Calgary, Canada, Operation Eyesight been recognized as a key player working towards the elimination of avoidable blindness. With support from donors, Operation Eyesight collaborates with hospital and government partners in low- and middle-income countries to invest in sustainable eye health treatment, blindness prevention and community development to create a better life for people now and into the future. Operation Eyesight currently has programs in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Zambia, and is looking to expand to other countries in the future.
The eye care system in Ghana can be said to be one in its infant or growing stages. Today there are less than 300 eye care professionals taking care of the eye needs of over 23 million Ghanaians.
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is the University of Miami School of Medicine's ophthalmic care, research, and education center. The institute is based in the Health District of Miami, Florida, and has been ranked consistently as the best eye hospital and vision research center in the nation.
The Organisation for the Prevention of Blindness is an international non-governmental organisation whose actions today focus exclusively on French-speaking countries in Africa. Their mission is to preserve and restore sight amongst some of the most under-privileged communities in the region. The OPC's principal actions concern blindness prevention, treatment and the elimination of blinding diseases, such as onchocerciasis, trachoma, glaucoma and cataracts as well as formal ophthalmological training.
Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, formerly called the Tilganga Eye Centre, in Nepal is the implementing body of the Nepal Eye Program, a non-profit, community based, non-government organization launched in 1992. It was founded in part by renowned ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon Sanduk Ruit. The current facility was opened in 1994. The World Health Organization recognized Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology as a WHO Collaboration Centre of Ophthalmology in 2019. In Nepal, it is the second institute, and first institute in the field of ophthalmology to receive this designation. It provides various sub speciality services of Ophthalmology such as Cornea, Cataract & IOL, Glaucoma, Oculoplastic, Lacrimal and Ocular Oncology services, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus services, Vitreo-Retina, Uvea, Neuro ophthalmology and Optometry services.
The Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP) was created in 1994 by Dr. Geoffrey Tabin and Dr. Sanduk Ruit with a goal of establishing a sustainable eye care infrastructure in the Himalaya. HCP empowers local doctors to provide ophthalmic care through skills-transfer and education. From its beginning, HCP responds to a pressing need for eye care in the Himalayan region. With programs in Nepal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Bhutan and India they have been able to restored sight to over one million people since year since 1994.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, founded in 1988, is an independent professional body and one of the Medical Royal Colleges. They set the standards and examinations for medical doctors aiming to become ophthalmologists, and provide surgical skills training, as well as services to those who have completed their training.
Community ophthalmic physician (COP) is a type of public medical ophthalmology post in Ireland.
College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS) (Urdu: کالج آف آفتھلمالوجی اینڈ ایلائیڈ ویژن سائنسز) formerly known as Punjab institute of Preventive Ophthalmology (PIPO) is one of the finest Ophthalmic Institute in Pakistan. it is attached with Mayo Hospital which was built in 1872 and was named after Lord Mack Mayo and King Edward Medical University which was built in 1860 and was named after King Edward.
Clare Gilbert is a professor and a researcher who focuses on blindness in children based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
The Myanmar Eye Care Project (MECP) is focused on improving the delivery of critical eye care services to at-risk populations in Myanmar. Founded in 2002 and staffed entirely by ophthalmologists, it aims to end blindness in Myanmar. Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia and has the highest rate of blindness in the world. Working with partners and a network of providers, MECP operates clinics that provide routine eye care, acute treatment, and surgeries to Myanmar's poor rural populations. MECP also builds eye care infrastructure in rural communities, trains indigenous physicians and nursing staff, and provides equipment.
Eye Care Foundation (ECF) is an international charity organisation active in over 20 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin-America.
Government support and local innovation has produced rapid improvements in eye care in India. A survey in 1976 found that 1.3% of the population were blind, and this was mostly due to cataract. This motivated government action. The National Program for Control of Blindness was launched, though funding did not match that of higher priority problems such as malaria, tuberculosis, and maternal and child health. By 1986 prevalence had risen to 1.49% and the government decided to allow free imports of ophthalmic equipment and then applied to the World Bank for a loan to support the development of cataract surgery. Evidence of the economic impact of blindness helped to secure funding of $117 million for the seven-year project which was launched in 1995.
