Sponsel Foundation of San Antonio, TX is an independent not-for-profit foundation chartered by the State of Texas in 2012 operating only under this name since its inception.

​

Glaucoma is one of three principal causes of acquired blindness in the developed world. Glaucoma has been called "the silent thief of sight" because it is frequently asymptomatic.

A recent meta-analysis of pooled data from major epidemiologic studies by the Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group (EDPRG) estimates that at present there are 2.22 million Americans with open angle glaucoma. This number is expected to increase to 3.36 million by the year 2020. It is well known, though, that the vast majority of individuals with glaucoma can have their sight preserved through early diagnosis and treatment. This includes infants with congenital eye disorders and anyone with traumatic injury to the eye or cornea.

Dr. W. E. Sponsel, the Foundation Director, in addition to being a full professor, is recognized worldwide as an expert in the field of glaucoma; and has given hundreds of invited lectures and published hundreds of major peer review articles and abstracts outlining his findings. He has a successful private practice and has worked extensively, collaborating with outstanding colleagues in the United States and throughout the world. He is a senior executive in the International Society of Glaucoma Surgery, serves on the editorial committees of international journals. As such, the Foundation has identified a largely underserved community of glaucoma/ophthalmologic patients and potential patients in the San Antonio and South Texas regions among military and Hispanic communities suffering from glaucoma as well as retinal and corneal disorders.

The specific aim of the CEGO Program is to increase access to COGR (Corneal, Oculoplastic surgery, Glaucoma, Retina)  disease and ocular injury treatment in our underserved community. The mentoring physicians are recognized throughout the regional ophthalmologic community for their willingness to accept the most critical patients who are often the most in distress financially as well as medically. Expanding the regional community willing to take on the most difficult cases related to infant and adult COGR disorders will be the natural outcome of the CEGO Program. The Program will be unique in its uniform willingness to allow its graduates to immediately enter the pool of qualified subspecialists available to serve the needs of the underserved populace in South Texas.