SL_Princeton Eye Group 2pg_0125_Layout 1 3 / 4 / 25 3 : 41 PM Page 1 That long - ago mission is what first ignited his interest in medicine . “ I would love to go back [ to Kenya ] and do it again , maybe once a year , ” he says . “ If you’ve been given much , you should also give much . I personally feel like it’s my responsibility to use my training and skills to help people , and I think everyone at Princeton Eye Group feels the same way . ” PEG ophthalmologist Michael Y . Wong , M.D . , has done a dozen similar medical mis - sions , from Africa to South America , throughout his career . He has also spent the past several years leading missions to the Central American nation of Belize . In January 2022 , Drs . Wong and his fellow ophthalmol - ogists Suzanne K . Jadico , M.D . , and Sarah D . Kuchar , M.D . , as well as nurse Annice Bacsik , traveled to Belize City to perform cataract surgery for needy patients at the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired clinic . Many of these patients struggled with compromised sight for years and , in some cases , were functionally blind . During the 2022 mission , PEG’s trio of doctors completed nearly 50 sight - restoring cataract surgeries and several urgent sight - saving glaucoma surgeries . Michele D . Solarte , M.D . , participated in a previous Belize mission , and Anita I . Relief in Sight Miedziak , M.D . , looks forward to going on yet another mission to that country later this spring . Dr . Wong has organized all of these Long known for its physicians ’ clinical excellence , tripsthrough SEE International , a worldwide nonprofit organization devoted to providing Princeton Eye Group earns high marks for its life - changing eye surgery to patients around the world . philanthropic work both near and far . “ Belize does not have any resident prac - by B I L L D O N A H U E ticingophthalmologists [ for the indigent pop - ulation ] , ” Dr . Miedziak says . “ The limited eye care is provided by ophthalmic assistants he team of eye care specialists at Princeton Eye Group ( PEG ) has gone to anda handful of optometrists . Mature cataracts great lengths to make a difference in the lives of their patients . Whether are the leading cause of blindness in that someone requires cataract surgery , treatment for a serious condition such country . I hope to donate my time , surgical as macular degeneration or glaucoma , or something as simple as a routine skills , and medical supplies gathered [ provided Teye exam , PEG’s ophthalmologists and optometrists strive to deliver the bya handful of medical suppliers coordinated most comprehensive care with grace and compassion . in advance ] to hopefully reverse blindness In addition to treating patients at three New Jersey offices , PEG’s physicians volunteer in 50 to 60 patients that we hope to screen their time and talents to helping those in need . The impact of their philanthropic work has and operate on during the week I and Dr . been felt far from the Garden State . In fact , many physicians have trotted the globe in their Wong are there . ” quest to give back . PEG’s charitable nature should come as Daniel Lee , M.D . , a glaucoma specialist who joined PEG in 2022 , recently returned from no surprise considering the organization’s a medical mission to Kakamega , a small farming town in Kenya , Africa . Over the course of close ties to Wills Eye Hospital , which was six days , from late January to early February 2025 , Dr . Lee and three other American established in 1832 “ to help the blind , lame , surgeons performed cataract surgeries for patients with compromised sight . He estimates he andindigent . ” To this day , Wills Eye Hospital performed 40 to 50 of the surgeries provided to the 250 people served by the mission . servesa large indigent population in Philadel - “ It’s gratifying to be part of something like that , and it’s challenging work , ” he says . phia’s inner city . Drs . Miedziak , Jadico , and p “ You’re operating in conditions that would not be acceptable in the United States . The OR is Wong , as well as R . David Reynolds , M.D . , rou hot , you’re sweating , you’re dealing with power outages . In America , there are people who spent parts of their careers as attending G ye go blind from cataracts , but it’s a rarity . In Kakamega , I think we touched only 1 to 2 percent physicians at Wills Eye — teaching , seeing E n of the people who have cataract blindness . It helped me appreciate how good we have it patients , giving lectures , and taking trauma eto here . ” calls on a volunteer basis . Today John A . rinc Dr . Lee’s mission was organized through Operation Restore Vision , an arm of Operation Epstein , M.D . , as well as Drs . Solarte and P f International , which since 2009 has been performing no - cost sight - restorative surgeries to Lee , continue the tradition . o sy people living in some of the world’s most impoverished areas . Dr . Lee was invited to Ofcourse , PEG gives back close to home , rte participate by Seth Meskin , M.D . , a former mentor who led the mission . too , through events such as PEG Cares Day . cou Dr . Lee’s mission to Kenya reminded him of an experience from his high school years , in Created in 2018 by Katerina Liu , a Rutgers tos whichhe accompanied a team of family doctors , dentists , and other medical professionals to University alumna and the daughter of PEG Pho SouthAmerica to provide essential care to people who otherwise would have gone without . surgeon Samuel M . Liu , M.D . , Ph.D . , PEG SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 16 ISSUE 4 58 |