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Eye institute celebrates 30 years, sees brighter future by Heather Woolwine Public Relations Some people may not know that the MUSC Storm Eye Institute (SEI) exists until something goes wrong with a person’s vision. In that time of panic, some comfort can be found in knowing that SEI has experience spanning the last three decades and is committed to providing the highest quality patient care through advanced technology and research.   From left are Andrew and Victoria Guest; Dr. Ray Greenberg, MUSC president; Dr. Ed Wilson, SEI director; Theodora Feldberg, SEI Board member; Bill Hewitt, MUSC Board of Trustees member; and Laura Hewitt, SEI Board of Directors chairman. On Nov. 2, SEI administration and faculty, MUSC administration, South Carolina Lions, and SEI board members and donors gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the institute and rededicated an updated donor wall located on the first floor.   In welcoming guests, Department of Ophthalmology chairman and SEI director M. Edward Wilson, M.D., provided a historical overview and remarks about the future of SEI while MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., unveiled the new donor wall.   Laura Hewitt, SEI board chairperson and devoted SEI benefactor, knows what it is like to need a place like SEI. Her husband, Bill Hewitt, an accomplished businessman, military leader and current MUSC board trustee, was diagnosed with glaucoma at the age of 29.   “Right off the bat, we were hit with a need for good vision care,” she said. “The more we learned about glaucoma, we understood this was a condition we could live with. With new research and the treatment options offered at Storm Eye, we feel comfortable with what is now available. So much has changed with medicine, especially with vision treatment.”   “From the time of our original donor wall dedication in 2000 to our re-dedication in 2006, our cumulative giving totals have increased by 84 percent and now represent $35 million in support for our research and teaching missions,” said Wilson. “As a result, Storm Eye now has seven endowed chairs to sustain and grow a great faculty, as well as the beginnings of an endowment for residency training needs. We get more than 400 applications each year for our four residency spots. … They are truly the best of the best. We are in the upper quartile in NIH eye research funding and have eight clinicians listed in the Best Doctors in America. The next 30 years will be even brighter than the first 30!”   Hewitt and her husband, along with other donors to SEI, also see a bright future for the institute.   “It’s just going to get better and better. …The research is just amazing to me, as well as what these doctors can accomplish, (such as) the outreach to other countries and the reputation they all have built,” Hewitt said. “There are people from all over that come to Storm Eye. You’d be amazed at where these referrals come from; they see patients from all over the world. We are  fortunate to have such accomplished staff.”   To become a patron of the SEI, visit http://www.stormeye.org.     Friday, Dec. 1, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.