FALL 2015 IN THIS ISSUE 1. Quitting is not an option 3. Innovative therapy, advanced research herald a bright future 4. Institute remembers pioneering ophthalmologists 5. Noted scientist continues groundbreaking research on neutrophils 5. Thank you to our donors 6. Surgeon notes innovations in treatment for dry eye disease PATIENT SPOTLIGHT Quitting is not an option Pioneering vision surgery helps New Jersey boy see clearly Quitting was never an option for 8-year-old Thomas Walkup. Even though congenital nystagmus caused his eye muscles to pulse continually and severely limited his vision, the youngster insisted that he wanted to continue wrestling and playing T-ball. Unfortunately, because Thomas could not focus on the ball, playing baseball was not a reality. Patients with congenital nystagmus have rapid and repetitive eye movements; the eyes move involuntarily side to side, up and down or in circles, making it impossible for them to gaze at an object steadily. Children with the condition typically suffer dramatic impacts on their educational and social development. In fact, Thomas’ mother, Susan Banks, was told he would not be able to play sports or drive a car, and was destined to struggle in school because he had such difficulty reading. Also, Banks worried about how Thomas, with his rapidly darting eyes, would be treated by his peers. Thomas Walkup continued on page 2 Inspired by her bright and determined son, Banks scoured from New Jersey to the Angels game, in hope of catching MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR the Internet and eventually found Gavin Herbert Eye a foul ball. He didn’t catch a foul ball, but he did take Institute and Dr. Robert W. Lingua — one of the only batting practice, and hit most of the balls pitched to him, surgeons in the world who performs an innovative something that would have been impossible a surgical procedure to improve vision in children with week earlier. Innovative therapy, advanced research congenital nystagmus. “ Thomas is a good-hearted kid, a herald a bright future Thomas, who lives with his family in Millville, N.J., determined kid,” Banks said. “He wants to The future has never been brighter at Gavin Herbert findings and test them in a clinical setting, allowing new was evaluated and qualified for the procedure, which be a scientist because he likes to learn.” took place in August. The three-hour surgery involves Eye Institute. With the completion of our new building, interventions to become standard practice in patient care. removing part of the muscle that controls eye movement. we have a special opportunity to advance ophthalmic After struggling for years to see anything more than Integrating the institute’s advances in chemistry, research and take our work to the next level. As we “The perfect result would be to stop the shaking and blurry shapes, Thomas is now able, for the first time, to genomics and diagnostics, biomedical imaging and maintain our global presence, we continue to develop straighten the eyes in every patient. That’s our dream clearly see his mother’s eyes. Playing sports and driving innovative therapeutics will enable us to optimize these innovative and accessible therapies for millions of people and that’s what we’re aiming to do,” Lingua said. a car, things all kids want to do, are now possible for sub-disciplines and serve as a model of modern medical worldwide who are on the verge of losing their sight. Thomas. Thomas is able to look forward unimpeded exploration. As we work to ensure the institute’s impact, Unfortunately, shaky eye syndrome isn’t the only to returning to school this fall and to a bright future As part of that mission, we are committed to advancing we are positioned to make a real difference in the lives of medical issue Thomas has faced in his young life. He beyond — one that he can see clearly. translational vision research. That includes recruiting generations to come. had brain surgery last year, the result of Langerhans cell and retaining exceptional scientists who have a histiocytosis, a rare disorder. After the surgery he suffered Sincerely, keen understanding and passion for expediting the a heart arrhythmia called supraventricular tachycardia, discovery of new diagnostic tools and treatments using which required another surgery. Unbroken by these a multidisciplinary, highly collaborative, “bench-to- setbacks, Thomas took images of his brain scans to share bedside” approach. with his second-grade class. Our emphasis is on enhancing the health and well-being Earlier this year, Thomas was denied services for the blind of individuals and the community with a focus on cross- by a New Jersey state commission that determined his functional collaborations between researchers and vision problem wasn’t severe enough to receive state- clinicians, leveraging new technology and data analysis supported assistance. His school district wanted to tools, and increasing the speed at which new treatments Roger Steinert, MD classify Thomas as learning disabled. “He has a vision reach patients. Our goal is to take basic research Director, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute impairment, not a learning disability,” Banks noted. Irving H. Leopold Professor of Ophthalmology “Everyone was just shutting the door.” That’s when she sought help online and eventually located the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. Although Thomas Walkup meets Mike Trout. Faculty members insurance will often pay much of the medical costs, Photo courtesy of Angels Baseball. patients usually have to cover the costs associated with Comprehensive Eye Care Cataracts and Glaucoma Retina and Vitreous Research travel, hotel, meals, etc. Thanks to the generosity of To view videos detailing Thomas’ journey to better vision, M. Cristina Kenney, MD, PhD Sameh Mosaed, MD Baruch Kuppermann, MD, PhD Lbachir BenMohamed, PhD Vice Chair, Academic Affairs the Millville community, which raised about $10,000 visit ucirvinehealth.org/thomas Cataracts, Cornea, External Anand Bhatt, MD Donald J. Brown, PhD Disease and Refractive Stephanie Lu, MD in donations, Thomas and his family spent a month Neuro-Ophthalmology James V. Jester, PhD Marjan Farid, MD Chantal Boisvert, MD Mitul Mehta, MD Tibor Juhasz, PhD in Orange County following his surgery. The Anaheim Vice Chair of Ophthalmic Faculty R. Wade Crow, MD M. Cristina Kenney, MD, PhD Angels arranged a day at Disneyland and Legoland, Sumit (Sam) Garg, MD and set up a meeting with his hometown hero Angels Vice Chair, Clinical Ophthalmology Oculoplastics Henry Klassen, MD, PhD center fielder and American League MVP Mike Trout, Roger Steinert, MD Jeremiah Tao, MD Anthony B. Nesburn, MD Vice Chair of Research a Millville native. Thomas brought his baseball glove Chair, Department of Ophthalmic Pathology Ophthalmology Eric Pearlman, PhD Irving H. Leopold Professor of Donald S. Minckler, MD Ophthalmology Pediatric Ophthalmology Steven L. Wechsler, PhD Director, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Chantal Boisvert, MD Jing Yang, MD, PhD Matthew Wade, MD Robert W. Lingua, MD Jennifer Simpson, MD 2 www.eye.uci.edu | ucirvinehealth.org 3 DONOR PROFILE RESEARCH UPDATE Thank you to our donors Gifts of $25,000 and above received Institute remembers pioneering ophthalmologists Noted scientist since Jan. 1, 2014, to the general fund of the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute: Two world-renowned ophthalmology surgeons and innovators passed away in the past year, continues Abbott Medical Optics but their legacies live on at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Bausch & Lomb Surgical groundbreaking Ninetta and Gavin S. Herbert Dr. Robert M. Sinskey, a cataract surgery pioneer who Loraine and Robert M. Sinskey, MD was especially devoted to eliminating blindness in research on neutrophils The Robert M. Sinskey Foundation children, is memorialized in the institute’s Loraine and Robert Sinskey, MD, Pediatric Vision Center. Dr. Richard Dr. Eric Pearlman has traveled the world studying the Kratz, who had more than 60 years of experience as a bacterial and fungal infections that cause corneal Gifts of $25,000 and above received clinical professor of ophthalmology at UC Irvine and in diseases (termed microbial keratitis). He studied river since Jan. 1, 2014, for research: private practice, is remembered through the institute’s blindness in sub-Saharan Africa and fungal keratitis in Richard Kratz, MD, DSci, Operating Room. south India. Fungal keratitis is also prevalent in the U.S., Allergan Foundation where it is associated with contact lens wear. Discovery Eye Foundation In addition to their work with the institute, both men Gerber Foundation gave generously to the Shine the Light capital campaign Recently named director of the UC Irvine Institute for Josephine Gleis in support of the newly completed building, recalled Immunology and a professor in the departments of Geneva M. Matlock, MD Diane and Harry Rinker Dr. Roger Steinert, institute director. “Both Dr. Kratz Ophthalmology and Physiology & Biophysics, Pearlman Polly and Mike Smith and Dr. Sinskey were pioneers in cataract surgery from is moving his ongoing research toward new and Nancy and Jeff Stack Roger Steinert, MD and Richard Kratz, MD effective treatments for patients. “It’s an exciting time,” the 1970s to the 1990s,” Steinert explained. “They were internationally known for their innovations in teaching he said. “We have National Eye Institute funding to Institute. “He created an ongoing legacy of continued Legacy Gifts of $25,000 and above: and for their contributions to the science of cataract continue research in new directions that will yield novel