Borrego Sun - Since 1949

Donald and Darlene Shiley marked the beginning of the Shiley Eye Institute with a financial endowment and the organization has continued sharing that gift.

Now grown to be a recognized leader and San Diego's first comprehensive eye care facility, the institute recently had its 25 anniversary. Wed. June 1, saw the children at Borrego Springs Elementary hold their own celebrations as 32 children were provided free eye exams.

Yolandi Jooste

Those who needed it were fitted for frames but all got the opportunity to benefit from the care and attention of clinicians who are at the forefront of developing new methods for diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and disorders. Each year more than 100,000 American children needlessly go blind, simply because they did not receive an eye exam. By taking their skills on the road, the multi-lingual staff take cutting edge technology to give young low-income children the vision they need to succeed in school and in life.

"Shiley has emerged as a hub for clinical care excellence, outstanding vision research and broad-based eye health education," said Robert N. Weinreb, MD, chair and Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at UC San Diego School of Medicine and director of the Shiley Eye Institute.