JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HelpMeSee is proud to announce the expansion of the HelpMeSee Simulation-based Training Program through new partnerships with two premier ophthalmic institutions in Latin America: Visualiza in Guatemala and Clínica Oftalmológica del Caribe (COFCA) via the MATRIX Training Center in Barranquilla, Colombia.

These new centers join Instituto Mexicano de Oftalmología (IMO) in Querétaro, Mexico, a HelpMeSee flagship partner and regional leader in surgical ophthalmic education.
By partnering with Visualiza and COFCA, HelpMeSee extends access to its high-fidelity, VR-based surgical simulation training to new regions. Both institutions are recognized for their commitment to clinical excellence and professional education, aligning with the mission to scale cataract surgical training in underserved areas.

“These new partnerships not only broaden the geographic reach of simulation-based training but also strengthen our shared commitment to delivering effective and equitable surgical education to future cataract surgeons,” said Dr. Van Lansingh, Director of Research and Business Development in Latin America at HelpMeSee.

Live Demonstrations at PAAO 2025 in Bogotá
To highlight this expansion, HelpMeSee will exhibit at the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO) Congress in Bogotá, Colombia, from May 30 to June 2, 2025. Visitors can experience hands-on cataract surgery demonstrations, on the HelpMeSee Eye Surgery Simulator at Stand P4-06, 4th Floor. These interactive sessions showcase the power of haptic VR technology, which provides tactile feedback that mimics real cataract surgery, enabling trainees to safely build essential surgical skills with expert guidance and without risk. Attendees can register here for the no-cost demo.
The PAAO Congress brings together ophthalmologists from the Americas, Spain, and Portugal to share the latest innovations in surgical care. The HelpMeSee demonstration aligns with the congress’s commitment to education and the advancement of clinical practice.

Addressing the Cataract Blindness Crisis with Scalable Training
The HelpMeSee Simulation-based Training Program addresses the global cataract surgeon shortage by offering an immersive and standardized approach to skills development. Trainees benefit from real-time instructor feedback, validated assessment tools, and the opportunity to perform hundreds of surgical simulations over a few days, accelerating proficiency and readiness for the operating room.

With more than 2,500 cataract specialists trained and 94% of trained cataract specialists recommending the program¹, HelpMeSee is transforming ophthalmic education to meet growing global needs.

Media Contact:
Amanda Kronberg
Director of Marketing, HelpMeSee
Pr@helpmesee.org

About HelpMeSee:
In a world where 100 million people are blind or visually impaired due to cataract, HelpMeSee, a not-for-profit under IRS 501(c)(3), has a global mission to eradicate cataract blindness by increasing the training of Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS). This safe and relatively quick procedure delivers successful outcomes at a low cost. The HelpMeSee MSICS training system features high-fidelity, virtual reality simulation with haptic feedback, sophisticated courseware, learning management systems, and electronic learning aids.

HelpMeSee was founded by Al and Jim Ueltschi, who imagined building the MSICS training system by incorporating many of the methods and techniques used successfully in commercial pilot training. As co-founder of Orbis International and founder of FlightSafety International, Al Ueltschi was an icon in the aviation industry and was devoted to treating preventable blindness in the developing world. HelpMeSee trains cataract specialists to ensure that all communities have access to highly trained MSICS specialists. With more than 40 simulators and 15 training centers worldwide, HelpMeSee partners with governments, universities and innovators to fight the global cataract blindness crisis. For more information, visit http://www.helpmesee.org.

About Clínica Oftalmológica del Caribe:
Clínica Oftalmológica del Caribe (COFCA) is one of the reference entities in visual health in Latin America, an institution distinguished by Forbes for its innovation, cutting-edge technology, clinical artificial intelligence and a patient-centered care model with international standards.

With more than 39 years of experience, strategically located throughout the Colombian Caribbean region and global academic alliances, the Clinic integrates research, quality and social responsibility to restore sight and confidence to more than 300,000 patients each year.

Complementing this ecosystem is the MATRIX Training Center, a surgical and immersive simulation laboratory where surgeons from around the world perfect ocular microsurgery techniques under the mentorship of internationally recognized experts.

MATRIX turns clinical excellence into exportable knowledge, opening its doors to fellows, startups and academic partners who want to co-create the future of ophthalmology from the heart of the Caribbean.

About Visualiza:
Visualiza, is a leading eye hospital in Guatemala. Visualiza works to prevent and cure blindness caused by major conditions including cataract and refractive errors. Founded in 1997, the hospital has been actively refining its unique community-oriented low cost and free service system. Although Visualiza employs only 2% of the nation’s ophthalmologists, the organization performs over 30% of all cataract surgeries in Guatemala. Visualiza’s hospitals provide private care alongside free vision services for their low-income patients. Is the first eye care institution of this type in Latin America. Visualiza works closely with many major non-governmental organizations interested in eye care including International Eye Foundation (IEF,) the Seva Foundation, ORBIS, Vision for the Poor and now Help mee see.

Visualiza has achieved substantive growth within its own institution as well as expansion to assist other eye care institutions in Guatemala and Central and South America.

Visualiza, is a leading eye hospital in Guatemala. Visualiza works to prevent and cure blindness caused by major conditions including cataract and refractive errors. Founded in 1997, the hospital has been actively refining its unique community-oriented low cost and free service system. Although Visualiza employs only 2% of the nation’s ophthalmologists, the organization performs over 30% of all cataract surgeries in Guatemala. Visualiza’s hospitals provide private care alongside free vision services for their low-income patients. Is the first eye care institution of this type in Latin America. Visualiza works closely with many major non-governmental organizations interested in eye care including International Eye Foundation (IEF,) the Seva Foundation, ORBIS, Vision for the Poor and now Help mee see.

Visualiza has achieved substantive growth within its own institution as well as expansion to assist other eye care institutions in Guatemala and Central and South America.

Source:
¹ Nair AG, Nazmuddin N, Arora S, et al. Assessment of a high-fidelity, virtual reality-based, manual small-incision cataract surgery simulator: A face and content validity study. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2022;70(11):4010–4015. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_2453_21

SOURCE HelpMeSee