Wills Eye Institute is a non-profit eye clinic

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...

 and hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. It was established in 1832 and is the oldest continually operating eye-care facility in the United States. It is affiliated with the medical school of Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University is a private health sciences university in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. The university consists of six constituent colleges and schools, Jefferson Medical College, Jefferson College of Graduate Studies, Jefferson School of Health...

.

Since 1990, Wills Eye Institute has consistently been ranked as one of the best ophthalmology hospitals in the United States by U.S. News and World Report.

History of Wills Eye

James Wills, Jr., a Quaker merchant, was instrumental in the founding of Wills Eye through his bequest of $116,000 in 1832 to the City of Philadelphia. Wills stipulated that the funds were to be used specifically for the indigent, blind, and lame. Over the years it evolved into solely an eye hospital. The first Wills Eye Hospital opened in 1834 near Logan Circle at 18th & Race Streets.

Early surgeons at Wills Eye included Isaac Parrish, M.D. and Isaac Hays, MD, George Fox, M.D., and Squier Littell, M.D., who in 1837 wrote "A Manual of Diseases of the Eye." In 1854, Littell also co-edited "A Treatise on Operative Ophthalmic Surgery" with Henry Haynes Walton.

Medical achievements

Wills Eye has pioneered many techniques in the field of ophthalmology, including:

• Artificial intraocular lens implant (1952), Warren Reese, MD and Turgut Hamdi, MD
• Invention of a vitrectomy machine (1972), Jay Federman, MD
• Artificial retinal implant (2009), Julia Haller, MD, Allen Ho, MD and Carl Regillo, MD

Research

The Wills Vision Research Center at Jefferson was established in June 2011 in order to forge a collaboration between clinicians and researchers in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of eye disease. More than 15 scientific disciplines participate, including ophthalmology, oncology, pathology, neurology and endocrinology. The primary focus is on translational research and studies that will have a major impact on improving vision health.

Wills Eye Notables

• Charles D. Kelman, MD
  Charles Kelman
  Charles D. Kelman was an ophthalmologist and a pioneer in cataract surgery.Kelman was born in Brooklyn, New York to David and Eva Kelman. He grew up in Queens where he attended Forest Hills High School. After graduation, he attended Boston's Tufts University, where he earned a B.S...
  
   (Wills Eye residency 1956-1960) - father of phacoemulsification and inventor of the cryoprobe
• Theodore W. Sery http://articles.philly.com/2011-01-05/news/27010875_1_herpes-virus-research-eye-ulcers

Senior officials

• Joseph Bilson, Executive Director, Wills Eye (2007-present)

• Julia A. Haller, MD, Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, Wills Eye (2007-present)

Accreditation and approvals

• Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
• Pennsylvania Department of Health
• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
• Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education of the American Medical Association
• College of American Pathologists

Memberships

• American Association of Eye and Ear Hospitals
• Council of Specialty Surgical Facilities and Institutes

External links

• Wills Eye Knowledge Portal