Surgical Eye Expeditions International
Encyclopedia
Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International is a nonprofit humanitarian organization based in Santa Barbara
, California
. Founded in 1974, SEE International connects volunteer ophthalmologists to host clinic sites worldwide to provide sight-restoring surgeries in communities that are overwhelmed with the large number of blind
individuals who cannot afford surgery. The organization is currently headed by President of the Board, Robert Yamin, along with a 12-member Board of Directors. In the United States
, it is classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity.
During his fellowship in the early 1970s Dr. Brown worked with eye surgeons in Africa
and Asia
. Excited by the experience of healing people who traveled great distances for sight-restoring surgery, he first realized the need for a permanent vehicle to link volunteer professionals with disadvantaged blind persons throughout the developing world. Dr. Brown’s vision was realized in the founding of Surgical Eye Expeditions International, Inc. on August 26, 1974 with the help of Mr. William Crockett. Mr. Crockett was instrumental in the early years of SEE, serving as administrator for the first six years.
In the late 1980s the Santa Barbara Vision Care Program was created to reach low income and uninsured individuals in the Santa Barbara Community. Every year 300-600 vision screenings are conducted and 5 - 12 surgeries are facilitated for those in the local community who have no other means of obtaining such services.
With a global network of more than 600 hundred volunteer eye surgeons who donate their services (and provide for their own travel and related expenses), SEE International coordinates short-term medical expeditions all over the world at the request of ophthalmologists in host countries whose communities are overwhelmed with the large number of blind individuals who cannot afford surgery. SEE International’s volunteer ophthalmologists work closely with the host eye surgeons to perform safe and quality sight-restoring surgeries.
In 2007, SEE International held 72 expeditions in 34 countries, screened 40,610 patients and performed 9,308 surgeries. Over the course of 34 years SEE has provided surgery for over 360,000 individuals in 75 countries.
SEE expeditions are typically one week long. All teams are invited by the Ministry of Health or a local health authority from the host country. SEE’s international clinic coordinators work with the host ophthalmologists three to six months in advance to coordinate logistical details and to ensure the availability of proper facility, equipment, supplies, support and staff.
is one of the most cost-effective of all health interventions. Cataracts cause more than 48% of the world’s loss of sight and are surgically correctable. Except for the most developed countries, cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in all regions of the world. With a 30-minute surgery and the patient under local anesthetic, a volunteer SEE surgeon can restore the sight of a person who has been blind with cataracts for 5, 10 or even 20 years.
, fewer incidences of infection
and heal faster through this process.
As part of SEE International’s ongoing commitment to patient care and affiliate ophthalmologists, and because of all the benefits of Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery, SEE International has begun to train ophthalmologists in the technique through a one-day course held one to two times a year at the SEE offices in Santa Barbara.
In the December 10, 2001 issue of [Forbes Inc.], SEE International was cited in the Charity Investment Guide for its 99% efficiency as a charity, meaning that financially almost nothing is lost to overhead.
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Founded in 1974, SEE International connects volunteer ophthalmologists to host clinic sites worldwide to provide sight-restoring surgeries in communities that are overwhelmed with the large number of blind
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
individuals who cannot afford surgery. The organization is currently headed by President of the Board, Robert Yamin, along with a 12-member Board of Directors. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it is classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity.
Mission statement
To provide medical, surgical and educational services by volunteer ophthalmic surgeons with the primary objective of restoring eyesight to disadvantaged blind individuals worldwide.History
Harry Brown, M.D., F.A.C.S. founded Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International, Inc. in 1974. The inspiration for SEE was found in response to the overwhelming number of people worldwide living with surgically curable blindness, the majority of which is caused by cataracts.During his fellowship in the early 1970s Dr. Brown worked with eye surgeons in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. Excited by the experience of healing people who traveled great distances for sight-restoring surgery, he first realized the need for a permanent vehicle to link volunteer professionals with disadvantaged blind persons throughout the developing world. Dr. Brown’s vision was realized in the founding of Surgical Eye Expeditions International, Inc. on August 26, 1974 with the help of Mr. William Crockett. Mr. Crockett was instrumental in the early years of SEE, serving as administrator for the first six years.
In the late 1980s the Santa Barbara Vision Care Program was created to reach low income and uninsured individuals in the Santa Barbara Community. Every year 300-600 vision screenings are conducted and 5 - 12 surgeries are facilitated for those in the local community who have no other means of obtaining such services.
International
In 2007, SEE International held 72 expeditions in 34 countries, screened 40,610 patients and performed 9,308 surgeries. Over the course of 34 years SEE has provided surgery for over 360,000 individuals in 75 countries.
SEE expeditions are typically one week long. All teams are invited by the Ministry of Health or a local health authority from the host country. SEE’s international clinic coordinators work with the host ophthalmologists three to six months in advance to coordinate logistical details and to ensure the availability of proper facility, equipment, supplies, support and staff.
The Need for Cataract Surgery
SEE International’s primary focus of cataract surgeryCataract surgery
Cataract surgery is the removal of the natural lens of the eye that has developed an opacification, which is referred to as a cataract. Metabolic changes of the crystalline lens fibers over time lead to the development of the cataract and loss of transparency, causing impairment or loss of vision...
is one of the most cost-effective of all health interventions. Cataracts cause more than 48% of the world’s loss of sight and are surgically correctable. Except for the most developed countries, cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in all regions of the world. With a 30-minute surgery and the patient under local anesthetic, a volunteer SEE surgeon can restore the sight of a person who has been blind with cataracts for 5, 10 or even 20 years.
Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (M/SICS)
Cataract surgeries in developing countries require a technique that is not normally practiced in the United States. Because of the density of the cataracts and the lack of infrastructure for sophisticated equipment, a manual process must be utilized in many developing countries. The extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) manual method is typically used, but involves a relatively large (usually 10–12 mm) incision made in the cornea which requires sutures. With the newer M/SICS procedure, a much smaller (5 mm) incision is made that is also self-sealing. Skilled surgeons can perform twice as many surgeries in the same amount of time with the M/SICS procedure compared to ECCE. In addition, patients typically have better post-op visual acuity, less astigmatismAstigmatism
An optical system with astigmatism is one where rays that propagate in two perpendicular planes have different foci. If an optical system with astigmatism is used to form an image of a cross, the vertical and horizontal lines will be in sharp focus at two different distances...
, fewer incidences of infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
and heal faster through this process.
As part of SEE International’s ongoing commitment to patient care and affiliate ophthalmologists, and because of all the benefits of Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery, SEE International has begun to train ophthalmologists in the technique through a one-day course held one to two times a year at the SEE offices in Santa Barbara.
Local
SEE International formed the Santa Barbara Vision Care Program in response to the population within SEE’s own local community that could not afford vision care. The purpose of the Santa Barbara Vision Care Program is to save eyesight in patients through early detection and to provide sight-restoring surgery to those in need. In 2007, SBVCP provided services for 473 patients, including four imperative surgeries.Awards and recognition
SEE has been awarded the Independent Charities of America (ICA) Seal of Excellence. The award is presented to nonprofit organizations that, upon independent review, have demonstrated the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness and cost effectiveness.In the December 10, 2001 issue of [Forbes Inc.], SEE International was cited in the Charity Investment Guide for its 99% efficiency as a charity, meaning that financially almost nothing is lost to overhead.
Logo
SEE International’s logo is based on the design of the rod of Aesculapius, the god of medicine and healing. Situated atop the staff is the symbol of an eye with the ideogram of the planet earth inside it, reflecting SEE International’s mission to provide sight-restoring surgeries worldwide.Board of directors
- Harry S. Brown, MD, FACS – Founder
- George B. Primbs, MD, FACS – Chairman of the Board
- Scott W. Groff– President
- Howard R. Hudson, CPA – Treasurer & Secretary
- John I. Crowder, MD – Medical Director
- Michael Colvard, MD
- William H. Coulter, MD
- Caryl O. Crahan
- Daniel R. Herlinger
- Lt. Col. Brian Kelly
- Scott A. Manning
- Timothy E. Metzinger, Esq.
- Michael J. Paveloff, MD, FACS
- Dante J. Pieramici, MD
- Joseph J. Schultz