FOCUSING ON WHAT’S IMPORTANT

When Barrington residents’ eyes are opened to the problems of the world, they step up with solutions. This is literally true for the members of FOCUS, a nonprofit, 100 percent volunteer-based organization that seeks to address worldwide challenges in eye care.

“FOCUS, The Foundation for Ophthalmological Care, has been changing people’s lives and preserving their vision, since the 1960s,” says Fiona Cotter, an active volunteer with the organization.

Dr. Daniel Alter, a retinal specialist who lives in Barrington Hills, is the current president of FOCUS and has been with the organization for almost 10 years. Since 2014, Dr. Alter has made more than 25 mission trips to Haiti to equip, supply, and teach local Haitian doctors modern vitrectomy surgery.

“On my first trip to Haiti, I went with my oldest son to perform retinal surgery in Haiti. I had been thinking of going there for a long time before that, right after the earthquake, but they weren’t ready for us. On my first trip, I traveled there thinking that I would maybe just do one or two trips,” Dr. Alter says. “And then I fell in love with the work and started recruiting other people to get involved with training the residents of the ophthalmology program down there.”

In addition to Haiti, Dr. Alter has traveled to Rwanda, Burundi, and Jamaica to perform surgeries and train other ophthalmologists. On many of those trips, he was accompanied by his two sons and his daughter, who are all now physicians. Currently, traveling to Haiti has become too dangerous but Dr. Alter and the other members of FOCUS are still connected with the doctors there and consult with them on a regular basis.

Dr. Greg Nelson, a Barrington Hills neighbor of Dr. Alter and ophthalmologist specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, joined FOCUS several years ago. His interest in FOCUS was inspired by earlier philanthropic efforts. “In 2005, we opened a charity clinic in India to provide eye care to those in need. The work is extremely fulfilling. I realize when I go there that I have no problems,” reflects Dr. Nelson. “We have a lovely head nun and then probably six or seven nuns who help lead the clinic. And there are two local doctors who do surgery, performing about 1,000 surgeries a year. In May, we’re going to Jamaica to help teach surgery.”

Operating in countries like Haiti, Rwanda, Burundi, Jamaica, and India presents challenges that doctors simply do not face here in the United States. Running these programs and purchasing the equipment and supplies can be quite expensive. “Resources are sorely needed to create and maintain retina programs in the developing world, but it can be done,” observes Dr. Alter.

This past December, FOCUS’ inaugural “Global Fight for Sight” gala at Barrington’s White House raised over $170,000. “We were fortunate to have a great interest in the event and sold out the venue quickly with many Barrington families in attendance,” says Cotter.

This year’s gala will be at the Sanfilippo Estate in early November and will provide a wonderful opportunity to “see” and support the work of this life-changing organization.

To find out more information about FOCUS and their upcoming gala, please visit 1focus.org.