Eye Didn't Know!

Sunglasses For The Masses

Did you know? Various excellent charities exist for collecting used prescription eyeglasses and donating them to the poor in other countries, who otherwise might not be able to afford them.

Sara Schairer, however, had the brilliant idea of collecting and donating used sunglasses. She visited the Flying Samaritans eye clinic in Tecate, Mexico, and was impressed that the diseases we treat surgically, cataracts and pterygia, were caused, at least in part, by sun exposure. She noticed that none of our patients were wearing sunglasses! 

The clinic distributes dozens of prescription eyeglasses each month, but no one had thought of distributing sunglasses.

Sara singlehanded started an organization, Sunglasses For The Masses, to coordinate collection and distribution of "gently used" sunglasses.

Last weekend Sara came to Tecate and distributed 40 pairs of sunglasses. What a great start!

Did you also know? Visit Sara's website, Sunglasses For The Masses, to learn how you can donate your old sunglasses, and how you can help spread this wonderful idea. And if you ever think that one person cannot make a difference, think again!

 

Project Orbis

I was privileged to attend "A Night Out for Orbis" on June 2, in the city of Victorville, California, and tour the Project Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, courtesy of my friend Dr. William Basuk.

Project Orbis is unique among world charities. They have an eye hospital within a DC-10 airplane. They fly around the world and teach local doctors eye surgical techniques. Unlike most eye charities which may perform a few surgeries and then leave a country, Orbis cures blindness by teaching eye surgeons around the world, who in turn teach other doctors and perform countless sight-saving surgeries among their people.

The city of Victorville, California, has adopted Project Orbis as its charity. The Orbis DC-10 undergoes annual maintenance at the Southern California Logistics Airport and while there the local Spring Valley Lake Lions Club hosted a gala fund-raising dinner. Dr. Basuk spoke at the dinner about his experiences teaching corneal transplant surgery with Project Orbis.

If you would like to learn more about this fascinating and inspiring organization, please visit the Orbis website.

photo: blake shaw photography

Pterygia

Did you know? A pterygium (plural=pterygia) is a fleshy growth which extends from the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye) onto the cornea (the clear part of the eye). Pterygia are common among those who spend time outdoors, such as farmworkers, surfers, or motorcyclists. It is not clear what causes them to begin, but they grow with continued exposure to the sun and the wind. I see them every time I visit the Flying Samaritans eye clinic in Tecate, Mexico.

Mid-sized pterygium
(the enlarged pupil is after dilating drops from an eye exam.)
(courtesy of ASCRS photo library)

Did you also know? A pterygium which is threatening vision (by approaching the pupil or by distorting the cornea) can be removed surgically. If it is small, then lubricating artificial tears, sunglasses, and a hat for protection from the sun and wind are advised.

Flying Samaritans

Did you know? As the year comes to a close and many of us have planned donations to our favorite charities, it is worth remembering that the simple act of donating old eyeglasses can restore sight to the less fortunate. The Flying Samaritans eye clinic in Tecate, Mexico dispenses hundreds of glasses per year to children and adults who otherwise could not afford them. Your used glasses are measured, and later dispensed to someone with a matching prescription. So don’t throw away those glasses!

Did you also know? Volunteer ophthalmologists perform approximately 40 sight–restoring cataract surgeries per year in Tecate, and hundreds are treated for other sight threatening conditions. One reason I enjoy these clinics is that I never know what interesting conditions I will see each month.

Smokeless tobacco

Did you know? A new study, conducted in rural India and published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology has linked the use of chewing tobacco to the formation of cataracts. Nearly 4,000 subjects were examined. After adjusting for age and gender, users of smokeless tobacco had a 67% higher risk of cataracts than those that did not. Interestingly, there was no association with the use of cigarettes. Read more about it here: bjo

Did you also know? India has been a leader in the development of hospitals devoted to high volume, low cost or charity cataract surgery, subsidized by charging those who are able to pay.