southern california eye institute
a world of
revealing
color
Our eyes bring us 80% of what we perceive of the world around us.
NEURONS DEDICATED TO VISUAL PROCESSING populate
the human brain in the hundreds of millions, taking up 30% of the cerebral cortex, compared with just 8% for taste and 3% for hearing. The human eye is a miracle of bioengineering—2 million moving parts working together to help us capture and interpret what we see. Our eyes can distinguish an astonishing 10 million colors—immersing us in beauty, wonder and possibility.
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“The voyage of discovery –MARCEL PROUST, French essayist is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”
NOW IMAGINE, FOR A MOMENT, that you are one of the 12
million people over the age of 40 in the U.S. who live with impaired vision or the nearly 1.3 million who can’t see at all. Perhaps you can’t see in focus, can’t read simple signs, have no central vision or only see shadows, blurs and bits of light— and even that ability is fading. Many of these problems are correctable, even easily so—assuming you have access to today’s most advanced eye care. Others are more complex. Their solutions wait on the precipice.
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“I don’t ask for the sights in front of me –MARY OLIVER, American poet to change, only the depth of my seeing.”
THE HUMAN EYE CAN DIFFERENTIATE APPROXIMATELY
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MILLION DIFFERENT COLORS.
1.3 NEARLY
MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S. ARE BLIND.
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THE PROBLEM: VISION LOSS IS GROWING
More than 4 million people in the U.S. live with vision impairment even after corrective procedures. Another 8 million have impaired vision due to an uncorrected refractive error, such as nearsightedness. Our estimates are that Americans with a variety of eye diseases—such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts—will dramatically increase by 2050. The reasons include a growing and aging population, an increase in chronic conditions like diabetes, and a lack of equitable access to expert eye care.
Here at the Southern California Eye Institute (SCEI), we are dedicated to ending vision loss and blindness through innovative research and eye care.
It is an ambitious goal—even an audacious one. But we know the work we do holds a unique ability to change someone’s quality of life in an instant. We invite you to advance this critical mission and bring the immeasurable gift of sight to more people worldwide.
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WHY SCEI. WHY NOW.
Thanks to research advances on every front—from the cellular level to inventive bioelectronic devices—our institute is making bold progress on our commitment. SCEI’s physician-scientists conduct vision research among diverse communities and vulnerable populations and bring what we learn to the larger population. We call on big data, genetic analysis, regenerative medicine, imaging and artificial intelligence to develop novel therapies and make hope visible.
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MILLION PEOPLE OVER 40 IN THE U.S. LIVE WITH IMPAIRED VISION.
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MILLION HAVE A CORRECTIBLE REFRACTIVE ERROR SUCH AS NEARSIGHTEDNESS.
“The brain is locked in –ANTHONY DOERR, American author total darkness… and yet the world it constructs in the mind is full of light.”
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strength in leadership
“The purpose of life…is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate.” –RALPH WALDO EMERSON American author
Our team at the Southern California Eye Institute is passionate about eradicating blindness and vision loss. We have participated in astounding progress in science and technology that makes what might seem like a dream a true possibility. When I entered medical school, I had already decided on opthalmology as my career path and quickly became obsessed with finding answers for glaucoma and other diseases. I soon realized that eye disease doesn’t exist in isolation or affect all groups equally. I began to look closely at its causes, Impact and potential deterrents. Beyond our dedication to research and community health at SCEI, we are committed to educating the next generation of physician-scientists to be compassionate and empathetic, in both clinical care and community support. We know these qualities are not always hallmarks of 21st century medical care, and this commitment places SCEI at the leading edge of opportunity and change. We do this work because we care deeply about bringing the gift of sight to people worldwide. Thank you for joining us.
Rohit Varma, MD, MPH Founding Director, Southern California Eye Institute Chief Medical Officer, CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center
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strength in education We are committed to training new generations of opthalmology specialists. In this way, we can expand the possibilities of meaningful discoveries in sight.
Our Ophthalmology Residency Program, currently in the planning stages, will educate and inspire future ophthalmology subspecialists with interests in ophthalmic care, teaching or research, or a combination of all three. Within SCEI clinics, residents will experience the latest diagnostic techniques and treatments while being mentored by our exceptional faculty. In further demonstration of our commitment, we launched our Glaucoma Fellowship, which will train future glaucoma leaders to serve unmet needs of the Los Angeles community and beyond. The oneyear, clinical/surgical program combines an academic education and hands-on training to offer fellows comprehensive knowledge of pathophysiology and management of glaucoma and related disorders. To serve the eye care needs of individuals of all ages, our year-long Ophthalmic Technician Education Program prepares highly skilled allied health professionals in ophthalmology at the technician and assistant levels. It is the only program of its kind in California, and one of just four nationwide.
“What you lose in blindness is the space around you, the place where you are, and without that –BARBARA KINGSOLVER, American author you might not exist. You could be nowhere at all.”
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“Things seen are mightier than things heard.”
strength in research
–ALFRED LORD TENNYSON, English poet
Chief among our research advantages is this: we are young, nimble and unencumbered by tradition-bound bureaucracy. Our investigators move quickly to pursue the most exciting research ideas and prove the unproven— in the name of better sight.
POPULATION HEALTH
We seek out the best talent from the U.S. and across the globe for our scientific collaborations to speed and enrich discovery. Our primary areas of interest include:
We conduct this research within the living laboratory of Southern California—home to many different communities and cultures and a microcosm of the U.S.
Groundbreaking epidemiologic research led by Dr. Varma has yielded vital information about visual impairment and eye health in America that is transforming policy and practice. These NIH-funded studies are the largest-ever to date on the impact of eye disease on Latinos, Chinese Americans, African Americans and children of multiple ethnicities.
PRECISION SCIENCE
At SCEI, we call upon genetics to better understand the origins and spread of eye disease. Using big data and artificial intelligence, we seek patterns or markers of disease to aid in precise diagnosis. BIOELECTRONICS & IMAGING
Our explorations are redefining the intersection of biology and engineering. Among the devices we have helped develop are a miniature intraocular pressure sensor to continuously measure eye pressure and a non-invasive imaging technique that visualizes blood vessels at the capillary level and generates revealing retinal images in seconds. STARTUP RESEARCH FUND
The most promising ideas can’t always wait for government funders to decide if there is finally enough evidence to move forward. Gathering the data to dream big often is the most difficult step— which is why we need equally big-thinking donors to partner with us. If you value unconventional ideas and those large leaps that transform science, then supportiing SCEI’s Startup Research Fund may be your happy place.
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strength in clinical care Our studies show that 90% of children who need an eye exam have never been seen by an eye doctor. Only half of adults in the U.S. have had a professional eye exam. At SCEI, we not only provide state-of-the-art eye care, we advocate for everyone to receive the care they deserve.
We are supported by cutting-edge facilities, including the first dedicated hospital-based ophthalmic operating suite in Los Angeles County. Within this facility, Dr. Varma and his team recently performed the first ClearPath implant in L.A. The procedure, called tube-shunt surgery, lowers internal eye pressure with a valveless drainage device to preserve sight in people whose glaucoma cannot be controlled by other means. To expand access to the finest eye care, we have added treatment sites beyond our Los Angeles home base, including Pasadena and Bakersfield. And we introduced the SCEI Vision Van, which puts our mobile teams on the road to provide vision screenings and early detection of eye diseases for people of all ages in underserved areas of Los Angeles.
90
%
OF CHILDREN WHO NEED AN EYE EXAM HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN BY AN EYE DOCTOR.
36
k
YOUR EYES PROCESS
BITS OF INFORMATION EACH HOUR.
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This is the ideal time to invest in innovation and discovery.
YOUR SUPPORT for the Southern California Eye Institute
will further our mission to end blindness and vision loss and enable more people to wake to a world that is clear, crisp and filled with color. As our philanthropic partner, you will become a vital participant in saving someone’s sight or even reversing darkness. We hope you are as excited about this enterprise as we are. To discuss your giving opportunities and philanthropic priorities, please contact Raya Karelin, Senior Vice President, at rkarelin@sceyes.org.
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scei research
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Olaf Hajek is a German artist and illustrator known for a vibrant, eclectic style, which is characterized by its layers of meaning, bold colors and whimsy. He draws inspiration from various cultures, as well as folk art and crafts, in his work. COPY
Candace Pearson DESIGN
studiodeluxe.com
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“This is the eye, the chief and leader of all others…” –LEONARDO DA VINCI, Italian artist and inventor
1300 N Vermont Ave Ste 101 Los Angeles, CA 90027 sceyes.org | 888.245.9522
The Southern California Eye Institute is part of CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, founded in 1924, and a member of CHA Health Systems, a global healthcare organization with a full spectrum of services in seven countries.