Circle of Sight
September 2003 - 2004 Vision Research Lectures
September 2003
On September 17, 2003, Shiley Eye Center’s Circle of Sight
members attended a Vision Research Lecture on the “Past,
Present and Future of the Shiley Eye Center,” presented
by Dr. Stuart I. Brown, Chair, Department of Ophthalmology,
UCSD and Director of the Shiley Eye Center.
Dr. Brown recalled the first days of the Ophthalmology Department
at UCSD in 1983 when it was two small rooms at Hillcrest, while
he anxiously awaited the arrival of the first campus facility.
That turned out to be a trailer (and a small one at that) two
years later. Thanks to our generous donors, including Darlene
and Donald Shiley and Richard Dreyfus and his family, that trailer
has been transformed into the beautiful Shiley Eye Center. Since
it’s opening in 1991, the number of patients seen at the
Center has grown dramatically. Our research teams are working
to find new solutions each day to improve vision and to stop
the ravages of eye disease.
Dr. Brown also talked about the different programs that the
Shiley has developed for the community that make the Shiley
Eye Center unique. Dr. Brown and Barbara Brody MPH, Clinical
Professor and Director of Shiley Eye Center Community Ophthalmology,
developed outreach programs for adults with Age Related Macular
Degeneration (AMD) to help them achieve a maximally normal lifestyle,
despite their loss of sight. Through this program, they were
able to help these adults deal with depression that comes along
with AMD. A second program serves the younger community. The
Community Ophthalmology department at Shiley sends the EyeMobile
out to selected local preschools to screen childrens’
eyes, provide exams, and give them free eyeglasses if necessary.
Dr. Brown then went on to discuss his own work with cornea
transplants for infants and young children. He was able to demonstrate
the success of these surgeries through the accomplishments of
his young patients who now see well enough to complete their
educations, get driver’s licenses and participate in athletic
activities that require the vision that was restored to them
through surgery.
Dr. Brown’s lecture was followed by a reception enjoyed
by Circle of Sight members, faculty and staff. On behalf of
the Shiley Eye Center, we would like to thank everyone that
attended and extend a warm welcome to anyone who would like
to join Circle of Sight!
February 2004
On February 18, 2004, our Circle of Sight members enjoyed the
first Vision Research Lecture of 2004 on “Macular Degeneration
and Retinopathy of Prematurity,” presented by Michael
H. Goldbaum, MD. The portion on Macular Degeneration is outlined
on page 12.
In addressing the problem of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP),
Dr. Goldbaum stressed that while this problem does not affect
most of the Circle members, it does affect the precious babies
in our lives. ROP is caused by high oxygen levels for the baby,
which leads to cessation of normal blood vessel growth and onset
of neovascularization (a scar tissue made of blood vessels).
Once neovascularization begins, fibrous tissue (scar tissue)
forms, creating traction on the retina, which then can lead
to destruction of the retina. Dr. Goldbaum explained that there
are five different stages of ROP. Treatment at the third stage
can save the retina. If the process reaches stage 4 or 5, the
eye ends up blind. Hence diligence at skillful examination is
necessary to treat ROP at the best time to prevent blindness.
Dr. Goldbaum went on to talk about the available treatments
for ROP. Cryopexy involves freezing of living tissue in the
eye. When applied to the peripheral retina at the right time,
the vascular scat tissue can be stopped and caused to shrink.
Cryopexy has largely been replaced by laser photocoagulation,
which is a gentler, yet more effective, treatment.
Through surgery, Dr. Goldbaum has saved the sight of hundreds
of babies with ROP in San Diego. He has also been able to prevent
blindness in babies in Tijuana by educating doctors there on
how to evaluate and treat the eyes of premature babies. When
Dr. Goldbaum started seeing a number of children from Tijuana
in his practice who were blind because they had not been treated
for active ROP, he trained Dr. Marisa Flores, a retina specialist
in Tijuana, the skills for examining premature infants and treating
ROP at the appropriate time. By providing this specialist with
the necessary skills, Dr. Goldbaum has made it possible for
babies in Tijuana to receive treatment for ROP before it is
too late.
As always, the Circle members enjoyed a reception after the
lecture along with faculty and staff.
