U.S. News Ranks Boscom and Wills Eye One and Two in the U.S.

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has achieved another historic milestone. For the 10th consecutive year, the renowned institute is ranked No. 1 nationally in ophthalmology in U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” rankings. Reflecting on the past 10 years at the top of the rankings, Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D., Chairman of Bascom Palmer, also credited Bascom Palmer’s high-performance team.“This remarkable decade-long streak as No. 1 confirms Bascom Palmer’s reputation as America’s leader in providing the most advanced and comprehensive vision care,” said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs, Dean of the Miller School and CEO of UHealth. “Our amazing Bascom Palmer team is consistently redefining excellence – in vision research, clinical care and education – which brings hope to patients with some of the world’s most debilitating ophthalmological conditions.”Read more.

Wills Eye Hospital was named #2 best in ophthalmology nationwide by U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals 2013-14" rankings just released. This advancement in the prestigious rankings reflects a growing momentum at Wills Eye. Research funding at Wills Eye is at an all-time high and a new four-bed inpatient unit will soon unveil an innovative design for eye hospitals. Now, all services will be oriented around a centralized, surgical hub. Patients in private rooms will remain close to their physicians, providing fast access to the most highly trained medical professionals in the facility. The proximity also saves staff time and ensures efficient use of precious health care resources. 

U.S. News gathers data from 5,000 hospitals and evaluates 16 specialties. It publishes the Best Hospitals guide for patients needing advanced or specialty care. In order, the top 5 best hospitals for ophthalmology are: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute/University of Miami, Wills Eye Hospital, Wilmer Eye Institute/Johns Hopkins Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Massachusetts General Hospital, and Jules Stein Eye Institute/UCLA. Read more.

Bascom Palmer Eye Receives $10 Million

World prominent philanthropist donated $10 million to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He wants the eye hospital at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to establish an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to eradicating blinding injuries and lethal orbital malignancies. The gift came from the founder and chairman of Rashid Engineering in Saudi Arabia, Nasser Ibrahim Al-Rashid, Ph.D. He lost vision in one eye as a child, but vision in the other eye was saved by David T. Tse, MD, professor of ophthalmology at Miami Miller School. Read more.

Virus Used to Control Genetic Eye Disease

"A research team, led by John Guy, M.D., professor of ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has pioneered a novel technological treatment for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), an inherited genetic defect that causes rapid, permanent, and bilateral loss of vision in people of all ages, but primarily males ages 20-40," reports Medical News Today. "Genetic mutations in the mitochondria (part of the cell that produces energy) cause the disorder. Currently, there is no cure for LHON. However, Guy and his team have successfully modified a virus and used it to introduce healthy genes into the mitochondria to correct the genetic defect. Using experimental models, they have proven that it is both safe and effective to replace mutated genes with healthy ones and that doing so prevents deterioration of the retinal cells that form the optic nerve. This research demonstrates that when efficiently introduced into mitochondria, normal DNA can correct a biochemical defect in cellular energy production and restore visual function." Read more.