Botulinum cosmetic injectors to cure blindness in Africa

Richard Weiss, MD, a botulinum (Botox, Allergan) cosmetic injector, will bring physicians from all over the country for a fundraiser on Nov. 16, 2007. The profits will be donated to curing blindness in Africa through the Eyes of Africa Initiative of the One World Sight Project. Despite the ease and affordability of the cataract treatment available to Africans, cataracts are still responsible for almost half of the 7 million blind Africans.

Due to the success of a pilot project in 2005, when 49 patients were treated in one day, which raised funds that cured 132 people of blindness in Tanzania and Tibet, the goal is to expand on this effort. Previously held only in southern California, this year's event will span the entire United States, with more than $175,000 already raised from more than 45 physicians around the country.

The makers of Botox (Allergen Medical, a division of Allergan Inc.) will once again donate the product and doctors will be donating their time.

Completion of the first comprehensive training center for community ophthalmology in Africa, to be located in Moshi, Tanzania, will be supported by the current Eyes of Africa initiative. There will also be a relief component with the training center, performing hundreds of live cataract surgeries simultaneous with the fundraising.