The Darwin Eye Project

Each year, members of the Ophthalmology Interest Club have the extraordinary opportunity to participate in the Darwin Eye Project, a collaborative global health initiative between the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. The project aims to bring high-quality, sustainable eye care to underserved communities on Isabela Island, part of Ecuador’s Galápagos archipelago.

What began as a chance conversation between former UM Provost Thomas LeBlanc and Dr. Richard Lee has grown into a transformative partnership. Now, with support from local authorities including the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health, the Galápagos Authority, and the Ecuadorian Society of Ophthalmology, the project has become a model of ethical, sustainable outreach as outlined in Global Perspectives by Nolan et al. (2019).

The Darwin Eye Project team includes attending ophthalmologists, residents, and medical students who provide comprehensive eye exams, distribute reading glasses and sunglasses, and address conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, pterygium, and pinguecula. In 2024 alone, the team served 386 patients in just two days, offering vital care to a population with limited access to ophthalmic services. Services included visual acuity testing, tonometry, pachymetry, refraction, visual field assessments, and dilated fundus exams.

Beyond the clinic, students immersed themselves in the local culture and natural beauty of the Galápagos—snorkeling with sea turtles, kayaking with penguins, and hiking to the historic Wall of Tears. The motto of the trip “Work hard. Play hard. Do good.” embodies the spirit of service and exploration that defines this unique experience.

Thanks to the generous support of donors like the Mola Family Foundation, the Darwin Eye Project also offers a Student Travel Fellowship, helping make this opportunity accessible to more aspiring physicians.

If you’re passionate about global health and interested in applying to the 2025 trip, stay tuned. Details and application timelines will be announced soon.