Lions Eye Institute

The Lions Eye Institute (LEI) is an Australian medical research institute affiliated with the University of Western Australia. It was established in 1983 with support of the Lions Club of Australia and headquartered in the Perth suburb of Nedlands, Western Australia. The LEI is a not-for-profit centre of excellence that combines an ophthalmic clinic with scientific discovery developing techniques for the prevention of blindness and the reduction of pain from blinding eye conditions.[2][3]

Lions Eye Institute (Australia)

Motto	Saving sight is our vision
Founder(s)	Lions Club of Australia
Established	1983 (1983)
Mission	Medical research
Focus	Eye disease
Chairman	Peter Forbes[1]
Managing Director	Bill Morgan
Faculty	University of Western Australia
Key people	Peter Forbes (chairman) Bill Morgan (managing director) Chris Whitelock (CFO) Antonio Giubilato (director clinical services) Fred Chen (director clinical research) Angus Turner (director Lions Outback Vision) Ian McAllister (director)
Location	Nedlands , Perth , Western Australia , Australia
Website	www.lei.org.au

History

At a 1970 convention in Albany, Western Australia, the Western Australian Lions Clubs created the Lions Save Sight Foundation (WA) Inc. with the aim of leading the development of ophthalmic care.[4] In 1975 the Lions Save-Sight Foundation (LSSF) established the Lions Chair in Ophthalmology at the University of Western Australia. Since its establishment, clinical facilities, new equipment, and research laboratories have been strategically commissioned to support the LEI's core activities. In 1983, under Professor Ian Constable's guidance, the LEI, a not-for-profit organisation was established.[5][6] With Constable, the LEI became an international centre for scientific research into blindness. Following its development, it relocated to the grounds of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Its current Managing Director Bill Morgan leads a team of clinicians, medical professionals, researchers and support staff. In 1994, the Institute created in partnership with the University of Western Australia, the Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (COVS). This centre has an independent University status within the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. In 2003, the LEI revised its basis of incorporation from a public benevolent charitable institution to a not-for profit limited liability company.

Overview

The LEI employs scientists, clinicians, and support staff to conduct scientific research into blindness with known ophthalmic practices in Australia. The Institute also includes a Laser Vision Centre, Western Australia's refractive surgery centre; the Lions Eye Bank, Lions Outback Vision, Lions Optics and the LSSF. The LEI actively participates in numerous clinical trials for the development of new treatments for eye diseases, in collaboration with scientists, ophthalmologists, and pharmaceutical companies. The Institute receives funds from clinic operations and its grants from organisations such as the National Health and Medical Research Council, individual benefactors and the LSSF.[7]

Services

The LEI provides a range of services including standard clinical services, LASIK surgery at the Lions Laser Vision Center, cataract micro-surgery and lens implantation, plastic surgery of the eyelids and full optometric service at Lions Optics. The Lions Eye Bank collects and distributes corneal tissue, scleral tissue and supplies thousands of corneal transplants throughout Western Australia.[8] The Institute initiated the Pilbara Aboriginal Eye Health Program, a strategy targeting indigenous people who suffer from diabetes and associated blinding eye diseases prevalent within the Aboriginal population.[9] As part of the Australian Government aid to the Indonesian Government,[10] In July 2007, the LEI was instrumental in setting up the Bali Mandara Eye Hospital which was handed over to the Indonesian Government on 13 October 2015.[3] The LEI provides open consultations and health education seminars in cooperation with several organisations including Glaucoma Australia, Retinitis Pigmentosa Society of Western Australia, Macular Degeneration Foundation and the Australian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness. Its ophthalmologists also consult at Perth's main teaching public hospitals including Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital and Fremantle Hospital.

Research Activities

The LEI teams investigate all major causes of blindness including cataracts, diabetes related eye disease, glaucoma, retinal degenerations, corneal, and immune-based diseases. More than 70 scientists at the LEI use a range of technologies to develop treatments for blinding diseases, including gene therapy and telemedicine.[7] The LEI has national and international institutional partnerships including American Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Shanghai University, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, University of Missouri and the National Eye Institute (USA). For example, the LEI participates in joint research and development projects with the American Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, University of Missouri and the National Eye Institute (USA).[11] Research carried out by the Institute teams led to the first retinal vein bypass treatment of blockages,[12] and the development of the first transgenic mouse model for Age-Related Macular Degeneration, the leading cause of blindness for people over 55. This model is expected to accelerate the development of ARMD leading to an effective treatment. At the LEI, the first artificial cornea, the AlphaCor was developed and implanted into a human eye.[13] The LEI is acknowledged as a core academic centre involved in clinical trials of new pharmaceutical therapies and surgical procedures before government approval. For example, the Xen Gel Stent, an implantable transcleral microsurgical device developed at the LEI was approved for use in the US by the FDA in 2016.[14]

See also

• Health in Australia
• Corneal dystrophies in human
• List of eye surgeries
• List of systemic diseases with ocular manifestations
• Gene therapy of the human retina
• Lions Club International

References

1. "Indigenous eye health an important focus for new LEI Chairman" (PDF). LEI. 3 June 2014.
2. "Scientists restore sight of mice and dogs". Sydney Morning Herald. 20 April 2005.
3. "Australia hands over Bali eye facility to Indonesian Government". Australian Embassy Indonesia. 14 December 2013.
4. "History". Lions SaveSight Foundation.
5. "Lions Eye Institute – History".
6. "Professor David A Mackey". Our people. Lions Eye Institute. 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
7. "LEI 2016 Annual Report" (PDF). LEI. 2016.
8. "Services at the LEI". Archived from the original on 27 November 2012.
9. "Improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health and vision care" (PDF). June 2010.
10. "Australia hands over Bali eye facility to Indonesian Government". 13 October 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
11. "Safety and Efficacy Study of rAAV.sFlt-1 in Patients With Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)". U. S. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
12. "'Bypass' may lead to vision gains for central retinal vein occlusion patients". Science Daily. 6 May 2010.
13. C R Hicks; G J Crawford; X Lou; D T Tan; G R Snibson; G Sutton; N Downie; L Werner; T V Chirila; I J Constable (November 2003). "Corneal replacement using a synthetic hydrogel cornea, AlphaCor™: device, preliminary outcomes and complications" (PDF). Eye. 17 (3): 385–392. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6700333. PMID 12724702.
14. "Review of Optometry" (PDF). Springer Verlag.