Affiliate with SEE

"A ten year old totally blind boy was examined by me, had cataract surgery with implant by me, and one day later was seeing the next county. Now that, folks, is THE TRIP."
Robert Shindler, M.D. (Pennsylvania, US)
October 2003 Ethiopia

The Team
 Host Ophthalmologist

  • Affiliate with SEE International as a Host Ophthalmologist by sending in your application and medical certifications
  • Perform life-enhancing surgery.
  • Supervise the eye clinic, and exchange skills with the visiting affiliates.
  • Secure letters of invitation and clearances from appropriate health and civic authorities.
  • Screen patients based on medical and socioeconomic status.
  • Encourage support and cooperation of other local ophthalmologists.
  • Administer post-operative patient care (immediate and long-range as required).
  • Provide in-country transportation, and when possible, food, and lodging for the visiting surgical team.
  • Possess a working knowledge of English and provide translators for the team if needed.
  • Select an appropriate hospital or clinic facility.
  • Complete the Ophthalmology profile for the clinic facility

Visiting Ophthalmologists

  • Affiliate with SEE International.
  • Perform life-enhancing surgery.
  • Serve as volunteers and pay own travel expenses including: airfare, excess baggage, accommodations, food, and transportation (if not provided by the host).
  • Promote skills exchange and education with local ophthalmologists by assisting one another and presenting lectures on topics suggested by host.

Patients

  • The patients are underserved people in the community who would not otherwise have access to eye care.
  • Pre-screened (medically and socio-economically) by host ophthalmologists
  • The highest priority of surgical cases is given to bilaterally blind patients who have a surgically correctable condition, i.e., bilateral cataracts.
  • A complete medical history should be taken into account with all surgical candidates.
  • The host agrees to do post-op follow up on patients.

Facility

  • The most suitable facility for a SEE International clinic is one that is equipped for ophthalmic surgery. The facility requires an operating theater, running water, electricity, and proper sterilization techniques (preferably an autoclave).
  • Selective local staff should be prepared to manage patient flow and provide support to the team.
  • If two or three operating tables can be set up, a number of eye surgeons can operate simultaneously, performing 50 to 100 cases in one week.

Team Profile
 A SEE International expedition team consists  1-3 board certified (or foreign equivalent) ophthalmologists, and possibly 1-2 nurses or support personnel.

Time Commitment
A typical surgical clinic usually last for 5 days, Monday-Friday. Other activities may include lectures, and roundtable discussions about the clinic (areas of improvement, future plans, etc.).

Supplies and Equipment
The visiting SEE International team hand carries all surgical supplies needed to complete cataract surgery.

Portable operating microscopes, instrument sets, sterilizers, Keratometers, A-scans and YAG lasers may be available for loan to the clinic and must be returned with the visiting team to be used for other SEE International clinics.

List of Supplies we can Provide for Cataract Clinics (9KB PDF)

Affiliate Application (17KB PDF)

If you are interested in participating-in or hosting an expedition, or you would like to become a member of SEE International, please complete the Affiliate Application.


NOTE: If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, you may download it for free from Adobe's website.

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