Eyeworld

UPDATE is possible because of the many in- dividuals and partner organizations who volunteer their time, expertise, and financial support to treat cata- ract blindness around the world. Endowed by a generous gift from David and Victoria Chang, F or more than 15 years, the ASCRS Foundation has fos- tered programs to alleviate the worldwide backlog of cataract blindness. These efforts extend internationally as well as in the U.S. The Foundation's work David and Victoria Chang endow $50,000 award to honor outstanding volunteers by Natalie Zundel ASCRS Foundation Development Director Announcing the ASCRS Foundation Chang Humanitarian Award Insightful news from the ASCRS Foundation the ASCRS Foundation Chang Humanitarian Award has been established to honor and recognize outstanding humanitarian work with a focus on cataract blindness and disability. The award will be made annually to celebrate and call attention to the charitable accom- plishments of an individual, team, or organization working in the U.S. or abroad. "David and Victoria's generosity and leadership is deeply appreciat- ed because it allows us to highlight and perpetuate the noble volunteer efforts of our colleagues within ophthalmology who are trying to alleviate treatable global blindness," said Stephen Lane, MD, co-chair of the ASCRS Foundation. Dr. Chang's own involvement in humanitarian eyecare over the past 15 years began with his first visits to Aravind Eye Hospital in southern India in 2003 and Tilganga Eye Insti- tute in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2005. "Seeing the stunning efficiency and choreography with which the Aravind and Tilganga surgical teams performed low cost, 5-minute, man- ual small incision cataract surgery was awe inspiring," Dr. Chang said. Dr. Chang was struck by the sheer volume of blind cataract pa- tients and how ineffective his phaco skills were for a task that demanded speed, cost containment, and a low- er-tech surgical method that could safely handle the worst mature cataracts imaginable. "I realized then that our greatest challenge in cata- ract surgery was stemming the grow- ing backlog of cataract blindness by replicating these models of surgical technique and delivery throughout the developing world," he said. The award will be given each year at the ASCRS•ASOA Annual Meeting, and a $50,000 prize will be granted in the recipient's honor to a charitable ophthalmology organi- ASCRS donated the remaining tote bags from the 2017 ASCRS•ASOA Symposium & Congress to council leaders, dormitory leaders, class coordinators, and others in Wanyange, Uganda. Source: Penelope Valdez ASCRS donates remaining tote bags from 2017 annual meeting

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