Duke Global Ophthalmology Program 04
Advancing research, education and access to eye care across the globe
F
or nearly two decades, Lloyd Williams, MD, PhD, a corneal specialist, has been leading global outreach initiatives to
nations including Nepal, Guatemala,
Zambia and Sierra Leone. Since 2001, he has made 15 trips to Africa. The newly established Duke Global Ophthalmology Program, led by Williams, associate professor of ophthalmology, will support infrastructure, and expand global efforts by Duke Eye Center physicians.
DUKE EYE CENTER
2022
There are at least 2.2 billion people worldwide who have vision impairment or blindness. With access to modern eye care, vision loss could be prevented or treated in at least 1 billion of those people. The world faces considerable challenges in eye care including inequalities in the coverage and quality of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services,
a shortage of trained eye care providers, and poor integration of eye care services into health systems, among others, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). With international recognition for innovation in ophthalmology, physicians at Duke Eye Center deliver specialized care to hundreds of thousands of patients each year in Durham and surrounding area satellite clinics. Equally significant, is the commitment to delivering essential eye care and ophthalmology training to under-resourced regions around the globe. To address eye care in underserved regions across the globe, Duke Eye Center clinicians and scientists have traveled to countries to help those in need primarily on an ad hoc basis, leveraging their own international connections. “The newly established Duke Global Opthalmology Program will enable broader global efforts. Most importantly this work will help reduce avoidable blindness and human suffering,” said Williams. Two dynamic missions in 2021 bear witness to the reach of Duke Eye Center and the passion of exceptional doctors.
