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SEI-Lions event commuicates vision care progress
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by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
SEI-Lions event communicates vision care progress More than 100 South
Carolina Lions Club members attended the MUSC – South Carolina Lions
Vision Symposium to learn about the latest trends in vision care and
sight-saving research being done at MUSC Storm Eye Institute (SEI).
The event was organized by SEI development director Toni McHugh and SEI
staff and members of the S.C. Lions Eye Research Committee.
 Surfside/South
Strand Lions Club members Bernie Bone, right, and Frank Losasso, check
in with Storm Eye Institute's Jerald Brown as part of the SEI-Lions
Vision Symposium.
“We were delighted
to have the South Carolina Lions here at Storm Eye to learn how our
vision scientists and physicians appreciate the support the Lions have
given over the years and to provide information about eye care and
research that the Lions can take back to their clubs,” said McHugh, who
also is a Lions member.
The daylong program caught the attention of Richard “Grover”
Cleaveland, who is president of the Hilton Head Island Noon Lions Club.
Cleaveland made the 120-mile round trip and was pleased with what he
heard at MUSC.
“Not everyone has the opportunity to visit Charleston and hear what
I’ve heard today from eye specialists and researchers about the good
work and advances being made in vision care and research at MUSC,” he
said. “The program was well presented and provided a good overview of
ongoing vision care and activities. It’s my goal to take this
information and share it with the people of southern Beaufort County.”
The event opened with a welcome by M. Edward Wilson, M.D., SEI director
and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and MUSC President Ray
Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D. It featured brief presentations from SEI
clinicians, clinical researchers and vision scientists who spoke about
their work and expertise. The program also allowed time for questions
and answers with the audience.
“It is important for the Storm Eye Institute and MUSC to communicate
that we are of service to the entire state of South Carolina. Through
the vision symposium, we were able to reach out to over 40 Lions clubs
and 100 Lions from all parts of the state to share the significant
advances that Storm Eye is making in vision research and patient care,”
said Wilson, who also is a Lions member.
The morning session featured talks on clinical topics such as glaucoma,
macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataract and cornea
transplants and recommendations for vision screenings and
rehabilitation. After a midday lunch break, participants got an
overview of vision research activities, including the training and
preparation of doctoral-level vision scientists as described by Craig
E. Crosson, Ph.D., vice chairman of SEI research. SEI researchers
shared details about their current research in eye diseases including
age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and other retinal
degenerative diseases. They also shared progress with new drug
techniques and therapies to improve vision health.
The S.C. Lions have provided long-standing support to SEI and its
mission to meet the eye care needs of South Carolinians. The
organization continues to assist financially-challenged individuals who
need eye surgeries and treatments, as it has done for more than 35
years.
Through the years, S.C. Lions Clubs have supported pilot research
projects at Storm Eye, raising more than $500,000 that was matched by
the state to establish the Center for Economic Excellence’s Endowed
Chairs Program.
Crosson, who holds the Pawek-Valloton Chair in Ophthalmic
Bioengineering, said it was essential to convey to Lions members how
important their contributions have been to the success of the vision
research at Storm Eye.
“Inviting them to hear about the projects that our vision scientists
are investigating was a perfect way to share that information with
them,” Crosson said.
Friday, Nov. 12, 2010
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