$50,000 gift buys equipment to save children's eyesight

A $50,000 gift from the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation will help University of Louisville ophthalmologists diagnose retinal disease in infants and young children, allowing for early intervention to minimize vision loss.

The donation was used to purchase a machine, called an Eye Tracker for Multifocal ERG, that allows pediatric ophthalmologists to evaluate the retinas of children who are too young to follow instructions to keep their eyes fixed on a target.

"This equipment will give us a unique way to diagnose retinal disease early in childhood," said pediatric ophthalmologist Paul Rychwalski, M.D.

According to Rychwalski, many hereditary retinal diseases can cause blindness, and early detection can minimize the loss of sight and help the child and family cope with visual disability.

"This gift is a superb example of how UofL and the Kentucky Lions Eye Center can partner with the community to make a difference for patients and their families," said Henry J. Kaplan, M.D., chairman of UofL's Department of Ophthal-mology and Visual Sciences.

"We are grateful to the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation for helping us provide state-of-the-art eye care to Kentuckians."