Robert E. Morris, M.D.

A quest to end blindness is my inspiration.

After graduating from medical school, I entered an Ophthalmology residency, influenced by my visual experiences as a pilot, and my desire to enter a field of surgery. I soon found that when we had landed on the moon in 1969, we had not yet reached the back of the human eye. A new quest, to explore the eye’s elegant “inner space”, had presented itself.

Surgery of the Macula – The Human Center of Vision

With only one night of prone positioning, most patients recover from
a legally blind status to their previous level of reading vision!

The macula is a pinhead-sized part of the eye’s retina film that accounts for all central, detailed vision. Sudden hemorrhage under the macular is the most catastrophic form of macular degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss in persons over age 65. Unless the resultant blood clot is removed within days, macular vision is usually lost. Dr. Morris developed an operation to remove all hemorrhage from the under the macula, called “Mobilize and Move (M&M) Vitrectomy.”8 With only one night of prone positioning, most patients recover from a legally blind status to their previous level of reading vision!

Treatment of the Injured Eye

Worldwide interest in ocular trauma is rapidly growing as increasingly effective techniques for prevention and treatment are developed.

Professional associations (International Society of Ocular Trauma, United States Eye Injury Registry) have been formed to promote research and disseminate its results. Unfortunately, the lack of an unambiguous common language remains a major limiting factor in effectively sharing eye injury information: varying responses are given to simple questions such as What is the distinction between laceration, rupture, penetration, and perforation? Is a full-thickness scleral wound without obvious choroidal and retinal involvement an open globe injury? If a foreign body has traversed the eye and lodged in the orbit, is it perforating? double perforating? double penetrating?).

Prevention of Retinal Detachment

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Diabetic Retinopathy

Patients who have diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy (DR). This occurs when blood sugar levels spike and remain high over time, damaging the blood vessels in the retina.

DR is categorized into two main stages:

  • Mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the earliest stage. In NPDR, tiny blood vessels may leak, causing the retina to swell. When this occurs in the macula, Macular Edema occurs. Macular Edema is a swelling of the macula thereby causing loss of vision.
  • Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is the more advanced stage of diabetic eye disease. In PDR, new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. This is also referred to as neovascularization. These blood vessels are very delicate and bleed easily and if remain untreated, the DR can cause scar tissue to develop on the retina, which then pulls on the retina, causing tractional retinal detachments.

The Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education continues the work to which its namesake dedicated her life. It is from her achievements that we draw our inspiration. And our global efforts to end blindness and deafness through medical research are a result of her belief that no matter what the obstacle anything is possible.