Paediatric cataract initiative names global advisory council

The Pediatric Cataract Initiative (www.PaediatricCataract.org ), sponsored by the Bausch + Lomb Early Vision Institute and Lions Clubs International Foundation, has announced its inaugural global advisory council. Members include:

Gullapalli “Nag” Rao, M.D., MBBS, Ph.D. (Board Chairman). Dr Rao is an internationally recognized ophthalmologist and founder of the L V Prasad Eye Institute (Hyderabad, India). He is known worldwide for his humanitarian efforts to prevent blindness.

Joseph Barr, O.D., MS, FAAO. Dr Barr is vice president of Global Clinical & Medical Affairs and Professional Services (Vision Care) for Bausch + Lomb (Rochester, N.Y.). He is an emeritus professor of Optometry and Vision Science at The Ohio State University, and the emeritus editor of Contact Lens Spectrum.

Dr Sean P. Donahue, Ph.D. Dr Donahue is professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.). He is currently the chief of paediatric ophthalmology at Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with a special interest in early diagnosis of correctable childhood eye problems.

Dr Clare Gilbert, MSc. Dr Gilbert is professor of International Eye Health at the International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London University (UK). Her research focuses on the epidemiology of blindness in children, particularly in low-to middle-income countries.

Dr Scott Lambert, Dr Lambert is the R. Howard Dobbs professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics at Emory University (Atlanta, Ga.). His specialty is paediatric cataracts; he is currently chairing a National Institutes of Health clinical trial on the best way to optically correct infants after cataract surgery.

Dr Lipika Roy, MBA. Dr Roy is head of Asia-Pacific Medical Affairs (Pharmaceuticals) for Bausch + Lomb (Singapore). A paediatric ophthalmologist, she was formerly the assistant director of research, ophthalmology, for Singapore's National Health Care Group.

In addition, Lions Clubs International Foundation will name one of its members to serve on the advisory board in July 2010.

The Paediatric Cataract Initiative will use the resources of the Bausch + Lomb Early Vision Institute and Lions Clubs International Foundation to identify, fund and promote innovative methods of overcoming this issue for the long-term benefit of children, their families and their communities.

This debilitating childhood condition is a clouding of the eye's natural lens. Causes include intrauterine infections such as pregnancy rubella, metabolic disorders and genetically transmitted syndromes.