New Hope for Blindness: UIC Joins Elite Sight-Restoring Network

CINCINNATI, OH – April 07, 2026 – A beacon of hope for patients facing blindness from severe corneal disease now shines brighter in the Midwest. The Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration today announced a pivotal partnership with the prestigious Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), establishing the nation's fifth Center of Excellence dedicated to a revolutionary sight-restoring procedure.

This collaboration brings a highly specialized and proven treatment protocol to a major metropolitan hub, significantly expanding access for patients suffering from Severe Ocular Surface Disease (OSD), a debilitating condition that often leads to chronic pain and profound vision loss. The new center will be led by Dr. Ali R. Djalilian, a world-renowned ophthalmologist and researcher in corneal disease.

The Battle Against Corneal Blindness

For thousands of individuals, the world slowly fades behind a painful, opaque curtain. This is the reality of Severe Ocular Surface Disease and its devastating subset, Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD). The eye's surface, or cornea, relies on a constant supply of stem cells from the limbus—the border between the cornea and the white of the eye—to regenerate and maintain its clarity. When these stem cells are damaged or destroyed, the cornea can no longer heal itself.

Causes for this damage are varied and often catastrophic, including severe chemical or thermal burns, genetic defects, and autoimmune disorders like Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Without a healthy supply of limbal stem cells, the cornea becomes covered in scar tissue, blood vessels grow across its surface, and the eye becomes chronically inflamed. Patients experience relentless pain, extreme light sensitivity, and ultimately, a loss of vision that can lead to complete blindness. An estimated 100,000 people annually suffer accidents that impair their sight in this way, compounding a vast and underserved patient population.

A Standardized Solution: The Cincinnati Protocol

Addressing this critical unmet need is the singular mission of the Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration. Co-founded by the world-renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Edward J. Holland, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit is the only foundation of its kind in the world. It has pioneered a standardized and comprehensive approach to treatment known as The Cincinnati Protocol™.

Developed by Dr. Holland, the protocol is not just a single surgery but a coordinated, multi-disciplinary team effort. Recognizing that severe OSD affects the entire patient, the protocol integrates expertise from glaucoma, retina, and oculoplastics specialists, and critically, collaborates with nephrology programs to manage the powerful immunosuppressant medications required for transplantation—a practice borrowed from organ transplant medicine. This comprehensive management has yielded remarkable results, with the protocol restoring sight in an estimated 75% to 85% of cases.

"Ali Djalilian, M.D. is an outstanding clinician, surgeon, and researcher," said Edward J. Holland, MD, Co-Founder of the Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration. "Partnering with Dr. Djalilian and the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at the University of Illinois Chicago meaningfully expands access to proper care for patients with severe ocular surface disease and brings us closer to restoring vision for those in need."

Building a National Network of Excellence

The establishment of the Chicago center marks a significant milestone in the foundation's strategy to create a robust national network. The Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary joins an elite group of institutions, including the Cincinnati Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Virginia Eye Consultants in Norfolk, and Mass Eye and Ear in Boston. Each Center of Excellence serves as a regional hub, training surgeons and providing the complex care required by the Cincinnati Protocol.

The choice of the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary is strategic. Founded in 1858, it is one of the oldest and most respected institutions of its kind, housing the only Level 1 eye trauma center in the Chicago region. Its Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is a powerhouse of clinical care and research, famously being the institution where LASIK surgery was invented. By planting a flag at UIC, the Holland Foundation ensures its cutting-edge protocol is integrated into a system known for both its historical significance and its forward-thinking innovation.

A Renowned Leader for a New Era in Chicago

Leading the new Center of Excellence is Dr. Ali R. Djalilian, the Searls III/Schenk Professor of Ophthalmology at UIC. Dr. Djalilian's expertise is perfectly aligned with the foundation's mission. After earning his MD and completing his residency at the University of Minnesota, he undertook a fellowship in Cornea at the Cincinnati Eye Institute, followed by specialized research training at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He is a board-certified physician-scientist whose laboratory at UIC focuses on advancing regenerative therapies for ocular surface injuries.

With over 129 publications and an extensive research portfolio funded by the NIH, Dr. Djalilian is a recognized authority on the surgical management of severe ocular surface disease and the complex immunology of corneal transplantation. His work on regenerative therapies and stem cell roles makes him an ideal leader to implement and advance the Cincinnati Protocol in the Midwest.

"We are honored to partner with the Holland Foundation to establish a Center of Excellence at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at the University of Illinois Chicago," said Dr. Djalilian. "This collaboration enables us to expand access to specialized care and deliver sight-restoring treatment to more patients with severe ocular surface disease."

Fueling the Mission with Philanthropy

This ambitious expansion is powered by a focused philanthropic effort. The Holland Foundation has launched the "Light After Darkness" campaign, a five-year, $5 million fundraising initiative designed to support the establishment of new Centers of Excellence, train more surgeons, and drive research innovation. The foundation's nonprofit structure allows it to direct funds where they are needed most, ensuring that progress is not solely dependent on commercial interests.

Financial records show the foundation is already putting its funds to work, issuing grants of $75,000 each to the centers at Mass Eye and Ear and the University of California Irvine to hire and train transplant coordinators and support personnel. This demonstrates a clear model: raise funds to build the necessary infrastructure for these complex procedures. By expanding its network and standardizing care, the Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration is methodically turning the tide against a previously untreatable form of blindness, offering the profound gift of light after darkness.