The mission of Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International is to provide safe, predictable, life enhancing, sight restoring eye surgery to the disadvantaged blind world wide. In 1974 Dr. Eduardo Arenas Archilla of Bogotá, Colombia sponsored the first cataract surgery clinic of the new humanitarian non governmental organization (NGO), SEE International. Soon ophthalmologists from Mexico , Alberto Barraza, Sergio Morales, Victor Sanchez, Pepe Ramos, Umberto Gonzales, Carlos Acuna, and others joined with their national and foreign colleagues to hold recurrent, short, sight restoring cataract surgery clinics. Dr. Ruben Orillac initiated the first SEE International surgery clinics in Panama in 1985. Dr. Francisco Contreras, Director of the Peruvian National Eye Institute, conducted the first clinic in Lima . Over the years eye surgeons from Mexico , Central, and South America joined SEE International in the fight to reduce cataract blindness in patients who would otherwise remain blind. Today SEE International Affiliate Surgeons are conducting periodic surgery clinics in Mexico , Honduras , Nicaragua , Bolivia , Peru , Panama , Guatemala , and Colombia . During the first six months of 2006 almost 1000 cataract surgeries were performed by Latin American SEE International clinic surgeons. SEE International only initiates surgery clinics at the invitation of local ophthalmologists with letters from appropriate health and civic authorities. Upon completion for formalities SEE world wide head quarters in Santa Barbara , California recruits, organizes, and deploys small surgical eye teams to work under the direction and supervision of local host ophthalmologists. Local doctors screen patients for cataracts and agree to take care of the patients post operatively. Intensive surgery clinics are conducted only in appropriate surgical facilities for three or four days. All of the consumable supplies, including IOLs, visco-elastics, and sutures are donated. Microscopes, multiple instrument sets, lasers, and sterilizers are provided temporally if needed for the surgery clinics and return with the visiting team to be used in other clinics. Depending upon the number of local and visiting surgeons participating 25 to 100 cataract surgeries may be completed in a three or four day clinic. Visiting team members pay for their own travel expenses. In country transportation, food and lodging is provided by the host country. SEE International has placed microscopes, autoclaves, YAG and diode lasers, instrument sets, fundus cameras, A-scans, slit lamps, and other ophthalmic equipment to established SEE International units through out the world for use to reduce surgically correctable blindness on a continuing basis. Latin American ophthalmologists have played a pivotal role in the development of SEE International for over 30 years to reduce the burden of cataract blindness. Many surgeons have traveled to other countries to work with their colleagues in surgery clinics. The opportunities to participate are limitless. For information on how you can become a SEE International affiliate surgeon go to www.seeintl.org or call 805-963-3303.
HARRY S. BROWN, M.D., F.A.C.S.
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