October 2024 | VOL 10

The American Academy of Ophthalmology held its annual meeting at McCormick Place in Chicago from October 18 to 21.

This premier event brought together international ophthalmologists and medical students for various lectures, courses, and hands-on labs led by esteemed experts from around the world.

The Beauty of Sight team was honored to present six DMEK and DALK Wet Labs sessions over two days, with instruction from six prominent Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) doctors. Each session included a lecture and an hour of hands-on practice using human corneal grafts.

Our Wet Lab instructors included:

• Sander R. Dubovy, M.D. – DMEK from the Eye Bank Perspective
• Alfonso L. Sabater, M.D., Ph.D. – DMEK Pearls for Success
• Ellen Koo, M.D. – Mastering the DMEK Procedure
• Angela Y. Zhu, M.D. – Step-by-Step DALK
• Jaime D. Martinez, M.D. – DALK: Mastering the Big Bubble
• Florence Cabot, M.D. – DALK Simplified

In addition to the Wet Labs, our team actively educated attendees about the critical work of the eye bank and its role in supporting vision restoration. Beauty of Sight representatives on-site included:

• Elizabeth Fout, Executive Director
• William Burras, Director, Program and Business Development
• Concetta Triglia, Director of Laboratory Services
• Dahiana De Francisco, Communications Manager

The Beauty of Sight team was proud to share our expertise and advance our mission at this prestigious event, reinforcing the vital role of eye banking in ophthalmology and supporting our vision of Creating a World Without Blindness.

CORNEA WETLAB AT THE FACOEXTREMA CONGRESS

Last month, Beauty of Sight was honored to join several U.S. eye banks as part of the Aleye Group during the Cornea Wetlab at the FacoExtrema Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Aleye Group, a resource and facilitator of corneas to eye banks in Latin America, made this opportunity possible through the strong relationship between U.S. and Latin American eye banks.



A highlight of the event was the guidance of William Buras and Katrina Llanes, who led the training sessions on tissue handling for endothelial grafts. Their instruction covered advanced preparation techniques for DMEK and DSAEK. Additionally, the Aleye team’s training featured a wetlab for CAIRS preparation, further advancing the collective knowledge and expertise of the participating surgeons.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: A Vision of Unity and Diversity

At Beauty of Sight, we celebrate the rich diversity that makes our community unique. From September 15 to October 15, we recognize Hispanic Heritage Month, which is when we honor Hispanic communities' cultures, histories, and contributions across the United States.



Hispanic Heritage Month encourages us to reflect on the impact of generations of Hispanic and Latino individuals on our society. We also celebrate contributions that have shaped our world in countless ways, from visionaries like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in the arts to trailblazers like Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space.

This month holds special meaning for us at Beauty of Sight as we work towards our mission to restore sight and care to all. We are deeply inspired by the values rooted in Hispanic culture—family, unity, and service to others. These values align with our commitment to offering services that improve the quality of life for individuals and families. Just as the Hispanic and Latino communities embrace diversity and support one another, we aim to ensure everyone has access to the care they need, regardless of background.

Please donate today to support our programs, including our Gratis Corneal Tissue, Serum Tears Assistance, and Research programs!