Bascom Palmer's Balkan Center established Global Eye SITE, an observership program dedicated to the training of skilled surgeons from underserved countries. The groundbreaking program’s curriculum will include the workup and management of childhood glaucoma, ocular syndromes and ocular genetics.

The inaugural participant in the Global Eye SITE program is Lucas Nicácio of Brazil, an ophthalmic surgeon who initially operated on Nicolly Pereira, a blind toddler who was diagnosed with pediatric glaucoma shortly after birth. Last March, two-year-old Nicolly traveled to Bascom Palmer from rural Brazil to undergo surgery in hopes of restoring her vision. A three-hour surgery performed by Alana Grajewski, M.D., restored her sight, allowing Nicolly to see her mother for the first time.