AECP Gala to Celebrate Success of 65th Medical Mission to Armenia

It was an productive and exciting trip to Armenia for the 12 volunteer physicians and others of the Armenian EyeCare Project (AECP), an organization that celebrated its 65thMedical Mission to the country this year with many milestones and accomplishments.

From September 20-28, 2025, specialists in cornea, glaucoma,pediatric ophthalmology, oculoplastics, optometry and research, each paid their own way and traveled to Armenia to participate in AECP’s annual mission trip. During this time, volunteer physicians did hundreds of patient consultations at four eye clinics in Yerevan; visited and worked in many of AECP’s facilities across the country including two of its Regional Eye Centers and its Mobile Eye Hospital; trained local physicians in the country at AECP’s state-of-the-art wetlab; and performed dozens of eye surgeries, including many procedures that have never been performed in Armenia before.

AECP also had several accomplishments to celebrate during its milestone Mission trip, including the grand opening of a new diagnostic eye clinic in the Kotayk province of Armenia; the launch of a revolutionary new glaucoma project in the country and a very successful International Ophthalmology Conference in Yerevan.

Grand Opening of AECP Yeghvard Diagnostic Eye Clinic

 

AECP kicked off its Medical Mission with the grand opening of a new diagnostic eye clinic in the town of Yeghvard. On September 22, AECP physicians, staff and friends gathered alongside local government officials and hospital personnel, including Armenia’s Minister of Health, to celebrate the opening of the Yeghvard Diagnostic Eye Clinic in Armenia – AECP’s fifth Diagnostic Eye Clinic in the country and the first in the town of Yeghvard in the Kotayk province.

The clinic was established with the support of the Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation and funds raised by donors during AECP’s annual gala last year. It is equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, which will provide the population of the region with the opportunity for in-depth eye examinations and outpatient treatment. Ophthalmological services at the center will be provided by local medical personnel who receive continued training by AECP.

“It is noteworthy that the 65th Medical Mission of AECP is launched with the opening of another ophthalmology clinic,” said Dr. John Hovanesian, Vice President of AECP. “For more than 30 years, our volunteer physicians and benefactors have contributed to the prevention of acquired blindness and the improvement of the healthcare system in Armenia.”

“Our strategy is to ensure access to quality services for our population through proper infrastructure, state-of-the-art equipment, and well-trained personnel. The Armenian EyeCare Project has been our long-standing and trusted partner in this mission,” said Anahit Avanesyan, Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia.

The establishment of the Yeghvard Diagnostic Eye Clinic is part of a large-scale regional eye care initiative in Armenia developed by AECP since 2015, the goal of which is to restore the eye healthcare system in all regions of Armenia. From 2015-2020, five Regional Eye Centers were established in five provinces of Armenia and equipped with all the necessary capabilities for diagnostics and surgery. Now AECP has developed five Diagnostic Eye Clinics in the country’s remaining provinces and is working to re-equip eye care services in polyclinics in several towns in Armenia, thus supporting the provision of high-quality eye care services countrywide.

 

Launch of Glaucoma Project

 

Another huge accomplishment that took place during AECP’s Mission was the launch of the Sarkis and Shushan Mnatzaganian Glaucoma Project, Armenia’s first-ever nationwide glaucoma screening initiative. Spearheaded by Dr. Richard Hill, a founding board member of AECP and a U.S. ophthalmologist who has been volunteering with the organization since 1992, the newly launched project is a pioneering, three-year initiative designed to combat glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.

The project is led on the ground by Dr. Lilit Voskanyan, head of the glaucoma department at the Malayan Ophthalmological Center in Yerevan, and is expected to significantly increase early detection rates of glaucoma, reduce the risk of blindness and enhance the skills and knowledge of Armenian healthcare professionals. At the time of its Mission trip, the new initiative had already provided more than 150 patients with screenings and over 70 patients with laser treatment. Thousands in Armenia are anticipated to benefit from the program.

The Sarkis and Shushan Mnatzaganian Glaucoma Project was made possible thanks to the support of the Alysia Vanitzian Family, who was able to join AECP on its Mission trip to Armenia this year and witness the remarkable effects of their most-generous recent contribution. As well, the donation of an OCT machine by Zeiss with support from the ASCRS Foundation will also prove invaluable for this revolutionary project.

23rd International Ophthalmology Conference

 

AECP’s Medical Mission culminated with its annual ophthalmology conference hosted alongside the organization’s longtime partner, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA.) The 23rd AECP-CHLA International Ophthalmology Conference was held on September 26-28 in Yerevan,  bringing together leading ophthalmologists from Armenia, the U.S., Canada and Russia. With a focus on sharing cutting-edge research, surgical techniques and innovations in eye care, topics this year included pediatric ophthalmology, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, refractive surgery, optometry and the role of artificial intelligence in medicine.

In a special video message, Dr. Roger Ohanesian, Founder and President of AECP, welcomed participants and expressed his deep gratitude for their commitment: “Thank you for being here. Your participation is truly an investment in Armenia’s future. For more than 30 years, AECP has worked to prevent blindness and ensure accessible, high-quality ophthalmic services throughout the country.”

Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. John Hovanesian, Vice President of AECP (U.S.); Dr. Nune Yeghiazaryan, Country Director of AECP (Armenia); Dr. Thomas Lee, Director of the Vision Center at CHLA (U.S.) and Mr. Armen Gasparyan, Deputy Minister of Health (Armenia).

Yeghiazaryan presented AECP’s projects’ continuity through development by highlighting its nationwide glaucoma screening and treatment project; establishment of a Dry Eye Center of Excellence; research activities in pediatric ophthalmology; nationwide training of family physicians in eye care; and publication of the second edition of the AECP professional handbook.

Another key educational initiative was the two-day AECP–CHLA Pediatric Conference, organized in partnership with the Armenian Pediatric Association. The event gathered specialists from CHLA and Armenia’s leading hospitals to exchange knowledge and discuss the latest trends and developments in general pediatrics.

 

Year Will Culminate with AECP Gala

 

The celebration of such a successful year for AECP will continue with the organization’s annual Gala. Many of the dedicated doctors, volunteers and friends who participated in AECP’s recent Medical Mission will attend the event, celebrating the accomplishments of such a historic Mission trip and year for AECP.

This year, the AECP Gala will be held on November 15 at 6 pm inside the newly constructed Stambolian Family Assembly Hall at St. Mary Armenian Church in Costa Mesa, California. AECP announced that its 2025 Honorees will be: the Vanitzian Family, Zeiss and ASCRS Foundation. For more information and to make reservations, visit: www.eyecareproject.com/gala