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Surgeon Testimonials

Surgeon testimonial: Bill Trattler, MD

“The LWVI wet lab at AAO was a great experience and appreciate the level of teaching having experienced CAIRS surgeons available to walk me through the steps of this exciting procedure for our patients with keratoconus.”

— Bill Trattler, MD

“I truly appreciated the opportunity to participate in the LWVI wet lab on CAIRS at AAO. It was a unique experience that allowed me to learn a new procedure under the instruction of world expert surgeons, including Dr Soosan Jacob, and the staff of LWVI. The wet lab was extremely efficient, well organized and included excellent equipment for the learners. I hope to be able to incorporate the skills learned in my practice in the future.”

— Jennifer Loh, MD
Dr Soosan Jacob and Dr Jennifer Loh LWVI wet lab AAO
Surgeon testimonial: Brian Armstrong, MD

“Thanks to LWVI’s wet lab at AAO, I was able try out some new procedures that I have been looking to bring into my practice. The training was both accessible and free, and LWVI had international experts available to walk me through the critical parts of each procedure.”

— Brian Armstrong, MD

“Learning a surgical technique with experts is the best way to ensure success but learning it from the inventor of the surgical technique is even better. I spent a terrific time at the CAIRS wet lab at the LWVI booth at AAO training with the incredibly talented and wonderful instructor Dr Soosan Jacob herself, I look forward to doing my first case.”

— Imane Tarib, MD
Surgeon testimonial: Imane Tarib, MD
Surgeon testimonial: Tatyana Sherman, D.O.

“What a great opportunity to train with Dr. Leonard Heydenrych at AAO, Lions World Vision Institute’s exhibit. Experiencing the wet lab training of TransplantREADY Endo-In DMEK and DSAEK was the most fun and worthwhile part of my entire AAO conference. I feel so lucky to have been able to learn from Dr. Heydenrych and to have met the brilliant minds behind this technology and look forward to using it very soon.”

— Tatyana Sherman, D.O.

“I learned so much at the Lions World Vision Institute wet lab at AAO practicing with real instruments and tissue. I look forward to translating these skills into taking excellent care of patients.”

— Jacob Fondriest, MD
Surgeon testimonial: Jacob Fondriest, MD
Surgeon testimonial: Dr. Edelstein

“The innovative delivery device designed for TransplantREADY Endo-in DMEK and DSEAK is a game changer. The advantages over other tissue insertion techniques include: (1) minimal endothelial cell damage and (2) allows for controlled and reproducible EK tissue insertion. The hands-on instruction and practical sessions were first-rate.”

— Sean Edelstein, MD

“The TransplantREADY Endo-In DMEK delivery into the AC is streamlined saving time and expense in the OR. Unscrolling and positioning the graft in the AC takes 90% less effort and time than the traditional DMEK delivery device”

— Craig Berger, MD

“Easiest and fastest DSAEK I’ve performed since 2007; the graft basically opened by itself. The graph looked like a million dollars PO1D, not a single striae observed.”

— Thomas A. Planchard, MD

“In a recent study performed with LWVI we demonstrated 4 times less endothelial cell loss using TransplantREADY DSAEK injection from a Weiss Glass Cannula compared to DSAEK pull-through using a Busin Glide and forceps insertion technique.”

— Jason Miles, M.D.
Surgeon testimonial: Kathryn Colby MD

“Preloaded tissue reduces the surgical time of my cases, and I don’t have the stress of having to trephine and load my own tissue.”

— Kathryn A. Colby, MD
Surgeon testimonial: Dr. Aarup Kubal

“We used two OptiGraft half-moon patch grafts today. Loved them! Packaging is so much better than that of the competitor.”

— Aarup Kubal, MD

“The LEITR Fellows Training Program was an incredible experience with hands-on wet lab training and guidance from experts in the field. I felt comfortable with the newest techniques in preloaded DSAEK and DMEK afterwards and look forward to applying everything I learned to my practice.”

— Shelly Watson, M.D.

“Lions World Vision Institute made my transition to preloaded DMEK and DSAEK tissue seamless — the process is easy to learn and greatly reduces my surgical time. I also feel confident that the eye bank’s tissue preparation method preserves maximal endothelial cell density.”

— Laura Palazzolo, MD
Dr. Lambright

“The risk, stress, time, and money of prepping my own tissue is eliminated with preloaded tissue from Lions World Vision Institute. It allows me to focus on my patient by requesting specific preferences from their technicians—they prepare more corneas weekly than many surgeons would in a year.”

— Benjamin K. Lambright, M.D
Mark Gorovoy MD

“Having peeled close to a thousand DMEK donors with the SCUBA technique has given me a unique perspective on the tremendous advantages of the new Lions World Vision Institute hydrodissection technique (Blister Method). I only do the Blister Method. It’s a game changer!”

— Dr. Mark Gorovoy

“Preloaded ultrathin DSAEK tissue in the Weiss Glass Cannula allows me to gently transfer tissue into the anterior chamber using a no-touch fluid injection technique and opens  orientated correctly.”

— Steven Kane, M.D.
Alejandro Candray MD

“Using Lions World Vision Institute’s preloaded graft in the Weiss glass cannula, allowed me to confidently perform my first case of DSAEK ever, leaving the pre-cut and pre-loaded process of this delicate tissue to their expert processing and services.”

— Alejandro Candray, MD
El Salvador

Fellowship Training Course
“Just want to thank each of you for an incredible training program this weekend! Without question, this was the best organized and highest yield course I have ever attended. I really appreciate everything you do to advance our field and the passion you provide in training.”

— Neel D. Pasricha, MD – Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL

“Preloaded tissue reduces the surgical time of my cases, and I don’t have the stress of having to trephine and load my own tissue.”

—   Kathryn A. Colby, MD, PhD
Chair, Department of Ophthalmology NYU Langone Health
New York, NY

“Pre-punched PKP has been a welcome change to my practice. I can still provide the same surgical results without my surgery center having to stock every different size donor punch and recipient trephine”

— Benjamin Lambright, MD – West Coast Eye Institute, Lecanto, FL

Fellowship Training Course
“What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand.” Xunzi (340 – 245 BC) Hearing is not as good as seeing, seeing is not as good as experience, and true learning is only evident when experience produces an action. Personally, participating in LEITR’s 2022 cornea training was an all-round action learning, hands-on experience delivered by experts and surprisingly at no training cost!”

— Onyinye Onyia, MD
Priya Mathews MD MPH

“Beautiful case, Opened right away.”

— Priya Mathews, MD, MPH

“The assembly was easy to handle and intuitive to use. The preloaded nature also simplifies the surgical set up for DSAEK procedure.”

— Simon Fung MD

“This was an excellent training course, and I feel confident to use this method on my next DSAEK case.”

— Ron Gaster, MD, FACS

“The new pre-loaded DSEK with the tissue in the Weiss glass cannula takes the stress out of loading and insertion, so that the surgeon can focus on the intraocular portions and steps of DSEK to achieve the optimal patient outcomes. It should enhance speed of the procedure while minimizing trauma to endothelial cells, both of which would enhance patient recovery.”

— Bala Ambati, MD

“The TransplantREADY preloaded DSAEK process is the ideal type of no-touch technique which spares endothelial trauma during the insertion process and allows the surgeon to easily visualize the orientation of the tissue once it enters the eye. It provides a nice transition for the surgeon who is contemplating making the transition to DMEK.”

— Steven Rosenfeld, MD