2007 Marks the 16th anniversary of the Donald P. and Darlene V. Shiley Eye Center main facility and the start of further expansion for new clinical and research space. Both the current and the future buildings are a result of the generosity of the Shileys. The impact of the Shileys on the Department of Ophthalmology at UCSD, the San Diego area and beyond is far reaching.

Over 16 years ago, the Shileys met Dr. Stuart Brown, Chairman of the UCSD Department of Ophthalmology, who was searching for support for new equipment to outfit an ophthalmic research laboratory. At the time, the department was being run out of a 1,000 square foot trailer with a few staff and faculty. In less than 24 hours after the Shileys met Dr. Brown and learned of the many infants and adults who have been helped by the small Department of Ophthalmology, they decided that the better way to help was to grant a leadership gift to establish the Shiley Eye Center. The UCSD Shiley Eye Center opened in 1991 with a gala attended by the Shileys, celebrities and supporters of the new center.

“The UCSD ophthalmology program is such a striking blend of science, technology and humanity that it is impossible not to be moved and impressed at the same time. When people have not only the ability, but the drive to make such a tremendous difference, they deserve attention and support”, stated Darlene Shiley.

Over the past 16 years, the Shiley Eye Center has grown to include the Anne F. and Abraham Ratner Children’s Eye Center (1995), the EyeMobile for Children (2001), the Hamilton Glaucoma Center (2003), and the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Retina Center (2003). The doctors from the Department of Ophthalmology also direct care at the Veterans Administration Hospital and see patients at the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest.

Since that time, Mr. Shiley’s battle with macular degeneration has led them to believe in and support even more programs at the eye center. Mrs. Shiley is the Chair of the Macular Degeneration Advisory Council, working with the Division of Community Ophthalmology. They have also contributed towards the research at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Retina Center, the EyeMobile for Children, as well as substantial funds for continued growth of the eye center.

Most recently, the Shileys responded to Dr. Brown’s call for further expansion of the existing clinic and research space. “The Shiley Eye Center at UCSD will always be a priority for us” says Mr. Shiley. Once again, the Shileys made a leadership gift to accommodate the tremendous patient growth that the center has seen over the past 16 years. The Shiley Eye Center Complex now has over 60,000 patient visits per year and more room is needed to allow for this and future growth of additional faculty and staff. The total number of patient visits from all of the locations the Department of Ophthalmology serves is now 110,000 per year.

The San Diego community and the field of ophthalmology owes a debt of gratitude to Donald and Darlene Shiley. “Without Donald and Darlene’s confidence and support in the work that we do here at the Shiley Eye Center, we could never have helped so many patients and ranked in the top ten for ophthalmic research in the nation,” stated Dr. Brown.

The Shiley Eye Center has produced significant contributions in the areas of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of all eye diseases, as well as groundbreaking outreach programs such as the only self management program in the country for Age Related Macular Degeneration.

This unique couple works tirelessly to improve the quality of life in our county and nationally through their thoughtful contributions to the arts, science, education and health care. Many San Diego organizations are beneficiaries of their generosity of time and support, including UCSD (especially the Shiley Eye Center and the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center), The Shiley Theater and the Donald P. Shiley Center for Science and Technology at USD, the local and national Alzheimer’s Associations, the Old Globe Theater, the Salk Institute, KPBS, Scripps Clinic, Girl Scouts and Palomar College.

Mrs. Shiley says that she researches potential organizations for funding and then she and her husband decide together what they would like to support. The Shileys still feel the same way they did 16 plus years ago about Dr. Brown’s dream of providing the highest quality care, groundbreaking research, outstanding training for future doctors and serving more patients in a timely manner. Most importantly, the couple stresses the need to find answers to the prevention and treatment of eye disorders. Mrs. Shiley ardently states, “The ability to see, to experience for ourselves all this world has to offer, is an extraordinary asset that should not be taken for granted. Much still remains to be done.”