Grateful Couple Supports Vision Research at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at Naples

In gratitude for the exceptional eye care they received from Dr. Jaclyn Kovach, Jim and Pat Zagelmeyer donated to support clinical research.

Jim and Pat Zagelmeyer

When Pat Zagelmeyer needed treatment for glaucoma and two cataracts in 2014, she struggled to find a physician near her New Jersey home willing to perform the triple surgery, then a high-risk procedure.

Concerned about losing her vision, she turned to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Naples, part of UHealth – the University of Miami Health System, conveniently located only a few minutes from her vacation home.

“I was so relieved when a physician at Bascom Palmer agreed to perform the surgery,” said Pat. “Their reputation is world-class and the results exceeded my expectations.”

No. 1 Eye Hospital

Ranked the nation’s No. 1 eye hospital for 23 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report, Bascom Palmer offers comprehensive care at its new 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art eye center in Naples. It has specialists for all ocular diseases, including macular and corneal diseases, cataracts and glaucoma, and is the only academic medical center in southwest Florida. 

Now living in Naples full-time, Pat and her husband, Jim, rely on Bascom Palmer for their ongoing ophthalmic care. Both suffer from macular degeneration and receive regular eye injections from Jaclyn Kovach, M.D., a professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and internationally recognized leader in the field of retina research and care. 

Dr. Jaclyn Kovach
Dr. Jaclyn Kovach

“We trust Dr. Kovach and her team completely,” said Jim. “Their compassion and expertise make the experience much more bearable. We’re incredibly fortunate to have such an outstanding facility so close to home.”

Advancing Retina Research

In gratitude, the Zagelmeyers have pledged support for Dr. Kovach’s clinical research in genetics and treatment of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in older adults, as well as retinal imaging at Bascom Palmer in Naples.

“I am grateful to the Zagelmeyers for their continued support of our cutting-edge, investigational research efforts,” said Dr. Kovach. “Their gift will help us bring more research to Naples, benefitting the local community, as well as patients around the world.”

Her Naples team has been part of several industry-sponsored clinical trials that have led to FDA-approved treatments for macular degeneration drugs. Bascom Palmer’s scientists and physician-investigators continue to expand their research efforts to understand why the eye may become susceptible to disease and how biotechnologies may help to prevent these conditions. 

“We are searching for new ways to stop vision loss before it happens, halting the course of blinding disease,” said Dr. Kovach. “Breakthroughs in medical technology and treatment options are offering new hope for managing this previously difficult-to-treat condition.”

Among the treatments they are pursuing is an oral medication for advanced dry macular degeneration, which could replace the need for injections like those the Zagelmeyers receive.

“Dr. Kovach has given us exceptional care,” Jim added. “We’re proud to support her research and contribute to advancements happening right here in our community.”


Tags: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, cataracts, Dr. Jaclyn Kovach, glaucoma, macular degeneration