Our story begins in 1971, when legendary Oklahoman Dean A. McGee suffered a retinal detachment and needed eye surgery. For the first time in Oklahoma history, two ophthalmologists at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center successfully repaired the detachment, restoring McGee’s vision. The historic surgery inspired him to join with those surgeons, other community leaders and members of the Oklahoma Eye Foundation to create a place where Oklahomans could receive the full spectrum of eye care without leaving the state, experts would undertake top-tier vision research, and experienced faculty would train the next generation of ophthalmologists.

On Dec. 4, 1975, the Dean McGee Eye Institute opened its doors at the corner of Lincoln and Stanton L. Young boulevards, with six ophthalmologists and nine residents in training. Last year, 29 ophthalmologists and seven optometrists provided care to over 60,000 patients from all 77 Oklahoma counties and surrounding states. This care included over 225,000 outpatient visits and 10,000 surgical procedures. The number of eye institute physicians rated as Best Doctors in 2024 was the third highest among all eye institutes in the nation.

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We house the largest collection of ophthalmologists with the widest spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of any organization in the state. We do not turn away anyone based on the ability to pay. Eye institute doctors have conducted several dozen mission trips to Africa and China, as well.

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In conjunction with the OU College of Medicine, we are the only organization in Oklahoma training future ophthalmologists, which is vital in a state that is severely underserved with physicians. Since 1975, the eye institute has trained almost 300 ophthalmologists, and our residency training consistently ranks among the top 15% of ophthalmology programs in the nation. Our world-class vision scientists have received funding from the National Institutes of Health averaging $4.1 million annually over the last decade and have made ground-breaking discoveries in ocular infections, retinal disease and genetics.

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year, we look back at the Oklahoma visionaries who laid our foundations with a renewed commitment to accelerate advances in technology, surgical techniques, telemedicine and artificial intelligence. The needs of Oklahomans are great, with an increasing burden of aging-associated eye disease, an expanding population in need, ever-changing regulations for research and patient care, and declining health care reimbursement.

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We are prepared to meet these challenges and to adopt new models of research and care delivery that are sustainable for the future. Our doctors, scientists, students and staff are honored to serve all Oklahomans in this mission. What started 50 years ago with one man’s vision inspires us today to look toward a future is limitless possibilities.

Dr. R. Michael Siatkowski is CEO of the Dean McGee Eye Institute and the E.L. Gaylord chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the OU College of Medicine.