Details
About BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE - Eye Surgery Hospital
About Us
Internationally Acclaimed Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is committed
to the protection and preservation of the treasured gift of
sight. The Institute's full-time faculty of internationally-respected
physicians and scientists are skilled in every ophthalmic subspecialty.
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, which serves as the Department
of Ophthalmology for the University of Miami Miller School
of Medicine in Miami, Florida, is recognized as one of the world's
finest and most progressive centers for ophthalmic care, research
and education.
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute continues to be rated as one of
the nation's best ophthalmic hospitals by board-certified ophthalmologists
from across the United States. This year, U.S.News & World
Report's survey of randomly selected ophthalmologists rated
Bascom Palmer the #1 eye hospital in the country. Ophthalmology
Times, an industry periodical for and by ophthalmologists,
surveyed ophthalmology department chairmen and residency program
directors who rated Bascom Palmer's residency program the best
in the nation.
Since its founding in 1962, Bascom Palmer has nurtured an internationally-acclaimed
faculty. Their continuing legacy is more than four decades of
pioneering work that has revolutionized the way numerous ophthalmic
conditions are diagnosed and treated. Each of our physicians
specializes in at least one area of ophthalmic care and has
completed fellowship training in one or more subspecialties.
More than half of the Institute's faculty members are listed
in the respected and comprehensive medical referral book, Best
Doctors in America.
In addition to providing excellent ophthalmic care to more than
200,000 patients annually at our facilities in Miami, Naples,
Plantation and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, our faculty members
conduct innovative biomedical research and present progressive,
industry-leading academic programs to medical students, ophthalmologists
and other physicians in the South Florida community and worldwide.
Under the direction of current chairman, Carmen A. Puliafito,
M.D., M.B.A., Bascom Palmer Eye Institute opened its third patient
care facility in January 2004. The facility is located at the
Naples Community Hospital Medical Plaza near downtown Naples,
Florida. The approximately 3,000 square-foot center will focus
on the management of vitreo-retinal diseases, such as macular
degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Bascom Palmer's newest
office located in Broward County, Florida, opened in the city
of Plantation in November 2004. The 10,000 square foot facility,
the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at Plantation offers diagnosis
and treatment of eye diseases and disorders including vitreoretinal
diseases, glaucoma, corneal and external diseases, aesthetics
and oculoplastics, and refractive surgery including Custom LASIK.
Advancing Medical Innovation
Consistent with our mission to resolve diseases and disorders
of the eye, the physicians and scientists of Bascom Palmer Eye
Institute develop new theories, therapeutic techniques and surgical
instruments. Many of the institute's innovations have advanced
the course of ophthalmic practices worldwide:
The first successful vitreous surgery --- and invention
of miniature surgical instrumentation required for this
new procedure --- was achieved by members of our faculty.
Bascom Palmer Research Investigators established
the clinical value of vitrectomy (removal of the vitreous
humor) to treat retinal detachments, diabetic retinopathy,
infectious diseases of the eye and severe ocular trauma.
We trained the first generation of vitreo-retinal surgeons.
Bascom Palmer researchers identified the herpes virus
as the cause of Acute Retinal Necrosis, a devastating infection
of the retina often associated with AIDS.
In a successful effort to restore the vitality to ocular
mucus membranes, Bascom Palmer faculty introduced limbal
cell transplantation therapy, which now can prevent potentially
blinding corneal scarring.
Many premature infants are affected by a blinding condition
called retinopathy of prematurity. Bascom Palmer's
pioneering studies have led to a better understanding of
the cause and more effective treatment.
Commitment to Research
Considering the importance of sight to every aspect of day-to-day
existence and the degree to which it enriches our lives, it
is not surprising that low vision and blindness are the disabilities
that Americans fear the most. And as our population ages, eye
disease is taking ever-increasing prominence as a national health
issue. Millions of lives are affected by the major age-related
eye diseases: glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
Physician investigators and scientists at Bascom Palmer Eye
Institute actively search for the causes, preventive measures
and most effective treatments for diseases and disorders of
the eye. We enjoy a unique position that fosters major advances
in medical research and allows us to translate those advances
directly into enhanced patient care. We constantly seek to build
upon today's knowledge and maintain our reputation as a preeminent
research institution.
Current areas of clinical research directly addressing patient
care include:
Photo-dynamic therapy an FDA approved therapy for treating
the wet form of age-related macular degeneration
- is currently being tested to find broader applications
in an attempt to benefit patients with other causes of subretinal
neovascularization.
Advanced techniques in molecular genetics --- a promising
direction for improving diagnosis that may point to cures
for macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.
Unraveling the mystery of normal tension glaucoma,
in which the optic nerve is damaged even though intraocular
pressure is normal.
Improving the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding
of cytomegalovirus retinitis, the most common cause
of blindness in AIDS patients.
Establishing predictive tests and new treatments for complicated
retinal detachments, a major consequences of diabetes.
New, non-toxic treatments for ocular cancer, such
as local hyperthermia, which kills cancer cells in the eye
without harming the adjacent healthy retina.
Laboratory research at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is conducted
under the auspices of the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight
Vision Research Center. McKnight Vision Research has a rich
history of discovery and innovation. Our multidisciplinary program
covers a broad spectrum of research, from the most basic investigations
into the nature of molecules, cells and tissues, all the way
to the development of devices for clinical application.
Building on our tradition of excellence, we are currently implementing
a major effort to develop and expand McKnight's existing research
units and to add new programs. A number of outstanding scientists
and physician-scientists have already been recruited. In addition,
we have extended the mission of the McKnight Vision Research
Center as an umbrella organization uniting all eye and vision
researchers at University of Miami and neighboring academic
institutions. Research activities have been initiated
to enhance the collaborative environment for this multidisciplinary
group. In addition, shared core resources and our research
training program are all under expansion.
Today's
and Tomorrow's Ophthalmologists
We regard the education of our ophthalmic residents and
fellows, medical students and ophthalmologists from around the
world as one of the highest priorities to ensure that the vision
needs of future generations are met. This tradition of excellence
has been instrumental in earning Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
world recognition as an outstanding teaching, research and patient
care facility. Our training programs are regarded as the best
in the nation, and annually our seven first-year residency positions
attract more than 450 physician applicants from around the world.
In addition to earning an ophthalmology specialty for residents
and sub-specialty training for fellows, physicians may also
participate in our continuing medical education programs.
Conveying the knowledge acquired in scientific laboratories,
our clinical practice and surgical suites to students and ophthalmologists
is critical to our commitment to global leadership in the advancement
of eye care.
Privacy
New privacy regulations recently took effect to ensure privacy
protection for patients by limiting the ways that their personal
medical information is used and disclosed. The regulations protect
medical records and other individually identifiable health information,
whether it is on paper, in computers or communicated orally.
These new standards also provide patients with access to their
medical records. For additional information regarding the privacy
practices of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
