Division of International Ophthalmology

Dr. Chandra

In a new department initiative that extends to the front lines of global vision health, the UW Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS) has established the "Division of International Ophthalmology" (DIO), funded by private support through the UW Foundation under the direction of UW professor and retina specialist Suresh Chandra, MD.

The Division of International Ophthalmology is a unique partnership between academic faculty and staff and the nonprofit organization Combat Blindness Foundation (CBF), which for more than 20 years has been working to eliminate avoidable blindness in developing countries such as India, Kenya and the Philippines, and is expanding the effort into China, Gambia, Vietnam, Haiti and other countries.

"The mission of the Division of International Ophthalmology is to help reduce avoidable blindness in developing countries by empowering people through knowledge and by supporting sustainable vision health improvement projects through patient care, education and research," says Dr. Chandra. Specifically, the DIO's efforts will focus on the following strategies:

• The DIO will support ophthalmic services and missions to developing countries by DOVS faculty and staff, alumni, and other eye care providers from Wisconsin.
• The major focus of the DIO will be education through lectures and educational seminars, as well as tele-education and international exchange programs involving DOVS faculty, residents, fellows and staff, DOVS alumni and other eye care physicians in Wisconsin. The DIO will also provide opportunities for faculty and staff from institutions in developing countries to visit DOVS and other institutions in the United States to exchange educational experiences.
• Finally, the DIO will support collaborative research between DOVS and scientists in developing countries such as India to improve understanding and treatment of eye diseases.

The DIO will provide financial and logistical support for all of these programs, Dr. Chandra emphasizes. "In a global society," he states, "we want to be at the forefront of advancing international understanding and improving the human condition."

More information about the DIO