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“More than meets the eye” – An afternoon of interactive demonstrations helps students explore future career options in ophthalmology. Activities included examining real human eyeballs with a variety of diseases.

Photos and production courtesy of Roger Barone. Music by Girard College Students and Paul Eaton, Music Director.

Wills Eye Hospital recently hosted a group of 18 Girard College students for hands-on demonstrations, including interacting with real human eyeballs, with the aim to inspire the young learners to consider careers in ophthalmology.

Dr. Julia Haller and Dr. Leslie Brown spoke to the 7th grade students about their experience and personal travels into the world of ophthalmology. The group excitedly donned personalized scrubs before moving to the hospital’s Ophthalmic Surgical Training Laboratory for hands-on demonstrations of a lens insertion, suturing artificial skin, and viewing pig eyes under a microscope.

Students also went to Wills Pathology Laboratory to view real human eyes led by Dr. Ralph C. Eagle Jr., a physician specializing in ocular pathology. The eyes exhibited a variety of diseases, offering students the opportunity to get up close and personal with several aspects of ophthalmology.

The visit was a great example of the potential for collaboration between the Girard Estate sister institutions.