Words & Photo Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation
Nearly 1,000 cataract surgeries are performed each year at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, helping local residents restore their vision and maintain their independence. Thanks to the generosity of Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation donors, those patients now have access to one of the world’s most advanced cataract surgery platforms.
This summer, Saanich Peninsula Hospital became the first hospital in Western Canada to use the Alcon UNITY Cataract System, a next-generation surgical platform designed to improve precision, efficiency and patient care. The milestone was made possible through a donor-funded investment of just under $145,000 by the Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation.
The UNITY Cataract System features advanced intelligent fluidics technology, which helps maintain consistent pressure within the eye throughout surgery. It also incorporates innovative 4D Phaco technology, enabling more efficient cataract removal while providing surgeons with greater stability, precision and confidence during procedures.
“We are incredibly proud to be the first hospital in Western Canada to bring this technology to our community,” says Dr. Patrick Yang, Surgical Site Chief at Saanich Peninsula Hospital. “Vision is precious, so it’s incredibly important that we provide our patients with the safest and most advanced technology available. The UNITY Cataract System gives our surgical team greater precision and control, allowing us to continue to deliver the highest standard of care.”
For Dr. Yang, the achievement represents more than introducing new technology. Having worked and volunteered at leading hospitals around the world, he believes the Peninsula has created something truly special through the partnership between physicians, philanthropy and the community.
“I’ve worked in hospitals around the world, and I’ve never seen another community hospital strike the balance we have here,” he says. “The generosity of our donors, together with the expertise of our physicians and surgical teams, allows us to continue investing in technology that supports excellent care for our patients.”
The investment reflects the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to funding leading-edge medical equipment that helps ensure local patients have access to advanced care on the Peninsula.
“Every donation made to the Foundation helps ensure our physicians have access to the tools they need to provide the highest standard of care,” says Heather Edward, CEO of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation. “This investment demonstrates what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared commitment to patient care.”
For patients, the UNITY Cataract System means access to one of the world’s most advanced cataract surgery platforms right here on the Peninsula. For the community, it is another reminder that when people come together in support of local healthcare, remarkable things are possible.
Learn more at www.sphf.ca.
