PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FORTHCOMING

NATIONAL ART COMPETITION FOR CHILDREN CALLED

‘PRIZE YOUR EYES ’:-

The Competition is the brainchild of our Patron, Professor Peter Shah , a leading UK Ophthalmologist and Director of Education for Moorfields Eye Hospital , London . A man passionate about the prevention of injuries to eyes, particularly in this instance those of our children, the future of this nation.

Peter Shah: Consultant Profile

Professor Peter Shah is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Supra-Regional Glaucoma Specialist. He is also the Director of Education for Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Partners (“Eyes and Vision Theme”). He is Honorary Professor of Glaucoma at the Centre for Health and Social Care Improvement at the University of Wolverhampton. He is an internationally-recognised leader in Glaucoma Surgery, and also specialises in Complex Cataract Surgery. He has written 4 Ophthalmology textbooks and has authored over 70 research publications.

Professor Shah is a founder-member of the Midlands Glaucoma Society, past-chair of the British Eye Study Group and a serving member of the Council of the Oxford Ophthalmological Congress. As a teacher he has organised many national and international symposia and courses, including the annual Birmingham Glaucoma Masterclass , “Sailing A Safe Ship” (a leadership course for young Consultants which focuses on patient safety and risk management), the Royal College Glaucoma Surgery Masterclass and the Birmingham Trabeculectomy Wet-lab Academy. Professor Shah has a long-term interest in patient safety and risk management and is a national teacher in these areas. He is a past-Glaucoma section editor for “Eye” and is a reviewer for many international journals.

Professor Shah is the leader of the “ReGAE” team – Research into Glaucoma And Ethnicity – which aims to prevent avoidable glaucoma blindness in the diverse ethnic communities of the UK. He is also a member of a team of Eye Surgeons providing charitable support to an Ophthalmic Unit in Tanzania via “Sight For East Africa”. Professor Shah is Patron to the charity “Speight of the Art”, which aims to seek out future artistic skills and talent in children aged between 4 and 18, in all its various forms including portraiture, landscape, fashion design, architecture, graphic design, sculpture and modern art. It also aims to promote and encourage the involvement of all young people in art as a means of self expression; contributing to personal and community development.

IN PROFESSOR PETER SHAH ’S OWN WORDS:-

“Serious eye injuries in children are sadly still a common occurrence and represent a significant public health problem. It is estimated that there are approximately 800,000 eye injuries each year in children in the USA . These injuries have potentially devastating effects for both the affected children and their families. Research has demonstrated that a large proportion of these injuries are preventable; and that measures can be implemented to reduce all paediatric eye injuries, and specifically those that are the most serious for children and costly to health services."

The Key to the prevention of childhood ocular trauma is EDUCATION. This ground-breaking initiative between the children’s charity, Speight of The Art, the NHS and associated partners aims to bridge the gap between communities, education and healthcare providers.

Prize Your Eyes is the National Art Competition aiming to bring an important health message regarding the prevention of children’s eye injuries to a nationally-based audience, specifically targeting all sections of the diverse communities in the UK.

This Foundation is proud to be invited by our Patron, Professor Peter Shah , to be the flag bearer for his unique competition. Increased awareness of prospective serious injury to our children’s eyes is a vital lesson to be learned by each one of us.

Through this artistic competition, the realisations of danger to the key element of sight will help to develop observation by children and enhance the natural guidance of their parents!

Regular announcements and project reports will be made via this website and the date of the official, National launch will be announced by ourselves and the Media i.e. Press and Television at the earliest and most appropriate time.

So keep your eyes open!