ASCRS News: ASCRS Foundation update
Fall 2024
ASCRS Foundation promotes efforts of Health in Sight Mission
The ASCRS Foundation’s mission is to educate, provide resources to, and empower the eye health community to serve and deliver humanitarian ophthalmic surgery and care in the U.S. and internationally. The ASCRS Foundation has supported many international programs and remains committed to its philanthropic priorities of humanitarian cataract and ophthalmic surgery, education, and training.
In this issue’s column, the ASCRS Foundation is spotlighting an outreach program dedicated to building self-sustaining care systems for underserved communities. Health in Sight Mission (HISM), led by board-certified ophthalmologist Darin Bowers, MD, his wife, Pam Bowers, and Paul Kang, MD, a leading cataract and refractive surgeon, was formed in 2005 to serve the people of Roatán, Honduras—the country with the lowest cataract surgery rate in Latin America. On their first trip to Roatán, HISM’s team of volunteers screened hundreds of people, many of whom required treatment for cataracts. Surgical care on the island began months later, followed by efforts to provide regular care at the local clinic.
Today, the outreach of HISM has grown remarkably, now including oculoplastics, cornea, and the treatment of vitreoretinal disease. By collaborating with numerous eyecare professional volunteers, building long-term relationships with local government and healthcare community members, and partnering with industry sponsors, HISM has treated more than 5,000 patients of all ages. But there is more work to be done to reach the overall goal of establishing an independent clinic in Honduras fully staffed by local physicians.
Medical care is only one part of their model for self-sustainability; volunteers work closely with the local government and healthcare communities to best meet area needs while enabling long-term success, and they rely on industry partnerships to enable the best care for local patients.
After nearly 20 years since the first trip to Roatán, HISM remains committed to serving the people of Honduras and other areas that could benefit from its self-supporting care model. The ASCRS Foundation is proud to highlight the important work of organizations like HISM.
Source: Health in Sight Mission
How you can get involved with HISM
Equipment and financial donations: HISM’s current needs include an SLT laser for glaucoma patients, where there is limited access to medication and regular follow-up care, and a YAG laser for cataract patients. Advanced technology is key to success for HISM, to enable efficiencies such as telehealth, triage, and future planning.
Become a sponsor: Without industry partners, such as Carl Zeiss Meditec (sponsor of OCT, fundus photography, visual field, and IOLMaster tools) and i2Vision (sponsor of marketing and social media, helping share the powerful stories from the field), HISM would be limited in reach for patients without access to medication or regular care services. Sponsors of HISM see the impact of their donations through regular updates, patient stories, and the latest statistics that demonstrate how vision is being improved in underserved communities. HISM also invites volunteers to schedule a trip and experience firsthand how the gift of sight is transforming the lives of people who have never before had access to eyecare. Get involved now at healthinsightmission.org.
ASCRS Foundation gearing up for National Sight Week
Since 2015, Operation Sight has celebrated National Sight Week, coinciding with World Sight Day, as a call to all members of the ophthalmic community to join in restoring sight. This important week grows awareness for the year-long program, celebrates the volunteers who make it possible, and most importantly, gives sight to more patients in need.
This year’s National Sight Week will be held October 6–12, and we invite all members of the ophthalmic community to give sight and remove patients from the ever-growing waitlist. Operation Sight provides ophthalmologists and practices the opportunity to provide charitable care to a pre-screened patient in need within their own community.
The ASCRS Foundation has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives that promote education, research, and patient care. Since 2014 with the inception of Operation Sight, the Foundation has provided nearly 10,000 surgeries to underserved individuals in the U.S.
ASCRS Foundation continues 50-year celebration with fundraising campaign
Over the summer, the ASCRS Foundation continued the celebration that started at the ASCRS Annual Meeting’s Party for a Purpose with an “Afterparty” fundraiser to raise awareness and funds for its Operation Sight program.
This 70s-themed fundraiser featured six ophthalmic practice teams who participated in a video competition, raising more than $15,000. While each team competed to win bragging rights, the real winners were the ASCRS Foundation and the patients of Operation Sight.
Now accepting 2025 Resident Excellence Award nominations
The ASCRS Foundation is accepting nominations for its 2025 Resident Excellence Awards. This award recognizes 10 exemplary residents with consideration given for performance in research, patient care, leadership, and education. Awardees receive a travel grant, 4 nights’ accommodation, complimentary registration, and invitations to select leadership and social events for the 2025 ASCRS Annual Meeting.
“[The ASCRS Annual Meeting] is a special meeting,” said Mahsaw Mansoor, MD, 2024 Resident Excellence Award recipient. “It is enriching and exciting to be surrounded by leaders in our field. It is such a great blend of learning, engagement, and of course, FUN! It was my first time attending, but you can count on seeing me there from now on. I feel extremely grateful to be an ophthalmologist, and this meeting really jump started an internal excitement/motivation to keep it going! Thank you to the Foundation for considering me and supporting the Resident Excellence Award winners every year. I feel so lucky!”
Submit a nomination by November 8.
