Sheba Global Ophthalmology
About
Activities
Leadership
Publications
SGO in Action
About
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 2 billion people worldwide suffer from vision impairment, with almost half of these affected by conditions that could have been prevented or made better by treatment.
Most of the world’s visually impaired live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with many counted among the elderly. They often lack access to eye care and specialists, as well as the financial means to fund treatment. This leads to significant and preventable diseases of the eye and vision.
With these concerns in mind, the Sheba Global Ophthalmology (SGO) initiative was established to advance equity in eye care across the world.
SGO experts tackle global eye care inequalities strategically using a four-pillar system, focusing on humanitarian outreach and educational programs in LMICs, international advocacy, global ophthalmological collaborations, as well as innovative research and technological innovation.
In cooperation with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), Sheba Global Ophthalmology fosters a vision-inclusive future dedicated to enhancing eye health outcomes worldwide, making eye care and rehabilitation services universally accessible, inclusive, and affordable.
SGO Activities
Patient Care
Focusing on underserved local communities, the Palestinian territories, as well as nations with limited resources and access to care, SGO humanitarian outreach programs ensure no one is left behind by providing direct care to patients worldwide.
Education and Training
Dedicated to developing sustainable eye care programs globally, the SGO views education as a fundamental tenet of its activities. Leveraging Sheba’s unique medical and technological expertise, we train international ophthalmologists from LMICs, help develop and promote local training programs as well as raise awareness of eye health within underserved communities.
Global Advocacy and Collaboration
With a global population of over 8 billion people, we believe that international collaboration is not just an admirable goal, but a necessity to truly achieve the global impact we are aiming for: the creation of sustainable eyecare programs with lasting effects within low and middle-income communities along with the dissemination of effective treatments for preventable blindness worldwide. To achieve these goals, we work hand in hand with Sheba Global as well as partners across the globe, advocating for eye health and developing therapeutic approaches.
Research and Innovation
Working in partnership with Sheba’s renowned ARC Innovation Center, as well as The Gertner Institute for Health Policy and Epidemiology, the SGO spearheads research initiatives that highlight disparities in eye care, particularly within LMICs, while also developing new technologies aimed at bridging these gaps by increasing access to eyecare in underserved communities worldwide.
Online & Offline Event
December 12, 2024 | 12:00 GMT
Join us for the upcoming event of “Coffee & Ophthalmology Roundtable”, featuring Prof. Hannah Faal, Chair of the African Vision Research Institute (AVRI), and the leading author of the Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health.
The “Coffee & Ophthalmology Roundtable” is a series of events led by Prof. Ido Didi Fabian, bringing together eye care specialists from around the world to share insights and discuss developments in the field.
Leadership
Prof. Ido Didi Fabian
SGO Director & Co-Founder
The author of numerous published medical articles, Prof. Fabian serves as the founder and principal investigator of the Global Retinoblastoma Study Group, has founded the Rb-NET MDT Project, co-founded the Asian Retinoblastoma Group, and is a reviewer for several medical journals and foundations.
Dr. Mattan Arazi
Co-Founder
An up-and-coming ophthalmologist with a deep-rooted passion for improving global eye care, Dr. Arazi has been involved in community service, philanthropic projects, and humanitarian work: providing medical care to underserved populations worldwide and authoring several publications in renowned journals on related topics. He is also the recipient of the 2023 David Hunter Cherwek, MD Award for Global Ophthalmology.
Recent Publications:
Ethiopian National Retinoblastoma Guidelines for Care
Treatment Outcomes and Definition Inconsistencies in High-Risk Unilateral Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma with and without Extraocular Tumor Extension: A Global Comparative Study of 3435 Patients
Improving Retinoblastoma Outcomes: The Critical Role of Standardized High-Risk Histopathological Classification
Global Ophthalmology in the Middle East: a Task Force Proposal
Retinoblastoma Outcomes in the Americas: a prospective analysis of 491 children with retinoblastoma from 23 American countries
Comparison of the efficacy and longevity of nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery with and without a new, nonabsorbable hydrophilic implant
SGO In Action
From Research to Real-World Eye Care: Michael Belkin & the Belkin Vision Story
Prof. Michael Belkin, an ophthalmologist and inventor at Sheba Medical Center, shows how Sheba’s research ecosystem turns ophthalmology ideas into real clinical tools. From ExPRESS to DSLT and CureSight, his innovations reflect Sheba’s model of combining clinical care, science, and device development. It is a clear example of how translational research can move from concept to practice.
Ten Days, 136 Surgeries: SGO’s Work in Tegucigalpa
The Central American nation of Honduras faces a severe shortage of ophthalmic surgeons, leaving glaucoma and cataract patients waiting for treatment that could preserve their sight. Over ten days in Tegucigalpa, a team from Sheba Global Ophthalmology (SGO) worked to close that gap directly, treating 155 patients and performing 136 successful eye surgeries at San Felipe Hospital.
Advancing Eye Care Equity: SGO’s Mission to Kigali, Rwanda
In July, two surgeons from Sheba’s Goldschleger Eye Institute, Professors Daphna Landau and Guy Ben Simon, traveled to Rwanda’s University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CUHK), performing complex, transformative surgeries and imparting invaluable expertise to local colleagues.
