V I S I O N

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VISION CHAIRMANS CORNER  Chicago Hope A Medical Odyssey SPRING/SUMMER 2006 VOLUME 22, NUMBER 1 D U K E U N I V E R S I T Y E Y E C E N T E R P A T I E N T C A R E + R E S E A R C H + E D U C A T I O N V I S I O N Its hard to believe a year has passed since we celebrated the opening of our
state-of-the-art Albert Eye Research Institute (AERI)the atmosphere con-
tinues to be one of great excitement and high expectations for new collab-
orative research and future discoveries which will lead to new treatments for, and prevention of, potentially blinding eye diseases. We also have just begun a partial
renovation of the Wadsworth building, our 35-year-old clinical facility, to accommodate our
growing patient population. The completion of these renovations will yield additional examina-
tion lanes, but this will give us only some short term relief. Our dedication and vision to be
able to apply the latest and best in science to the development of new treatments and cures,
and to also train the next generation of leaders in ophthalmology, will require a more modern
clinical facility in the near futurea facility that can truly complement AERI. We are already en-
gaged in discussions with Duke Health Center leadership and our Eye Center Advisory Board
to try to make this true necessity a reality. In this issue of VISION, you will read about some of the Eye Centers extraordinary ac- complishments in patient care, research and the use of new technology. In the cover story,
a Chicago family travels to Duke for needed innovative surgery for their three-year-old. In
another article, a pediatric eye researcher collaborates with colleagues at the Duke Center
for Human Genetics and the Singapore Eye Research Institute to investigate the genetics of
myopia (nearsightedness), the worlds most common eye disease. A novel corneal transplant
surgery is described that requires no sutures and results in a faster recovery for patients.
Duke researchers are uniquely honing in on the genetic and biological links between smoking
and age-related macular degeneration. These advances would not be possible without the leadership, ambassadorship, and contin- ued support of our Eye Center Advisory Board, our donors, patients, friends, alumni, faculty,
staff, and the Duke University Health System and School of Medicine. I want to express my
gratitude to all for your dedication and support. David L. Epstein, M.D. Chair, Department of Ophthalmology CHAIRMANS CORNER Chicago Hope The Douglass family from suburban Chicago was referred
to pediatric glaucoma specialist Sharon Freedman, MD,
when their three-year-old son developed glaucoma following
surgery for a congenital cataract. At Duke an innovative
surgery has given the family new hope. 02 07 Smoking and Age-related Macular Degeneration Duke Eye Centers Ivan Su

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