BBF recently purchased a portable slit lamp for Ponce Medical School Foundation in support of a new ophthalmology initiative at Clínica del Sur, the school’s student-run free clinic. The clinic is dedicated to providing high-quality, comprehensive medical care to underserved and disaster-affected communities in Puerto Rico.

Vision care is one of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of preventive health in these communities. Many individuals suffer from undiagnosed or untreated eye conditions due to a lack of accessible ophthalmologic services, leading to preventable vision loss and diminished quality of life.

To address this gap, Ponce Medical School Foundation is launching an ophthalmology initiative in collaboration with medical students from the Ophthalmology Interest Group. The program will provide free eye evaluations, early disease detection, and expedited referrals. BBF’s donation of a portable slit lamp will support early detection and treatment of conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts. It will also enable preventive screenings that help preserve vision and improve overall health outcomes, expand access to care in communities with little or no ophthalmologic services, and provide hands-on clinical experience for medical students preparing for careers in community-based healthcare.

This donation builds on BBF’s existing partnership with Ponce Medical School Foundation. In 2024, BBF helped fund a mobile health clinic program supporting student-led outreach in rural Puerto Rico. Following Hurricane Maria, BBF also provided clinic grants and medical supplies to strengthen local healthcare delivery. These efforts have helped bring care—including vision and diabetes screenings—to more than 1,400 patients across the region.