This fall, Dr. Taj Nasser and the team at Tylock Nasser Vision traveled from Dallas-Fort Worth to Cusco, Peru, to help lead a first-of-its-kind humanitarian mission. Through the Visual Freedom Foundation, the team brought EVO ICL surgery to patients with severe nearsightedness who had little or no access to modern vision correction.
It was the foundation’s first global refractive surgery mission. It was also a reflection of something we believe at our Irving and McKinney offices every day: clear vision is not a luxury. It is freedom.
The Overlooked Need in Global Eye Care
When most people picture a surgical eye mission, they picture cataract surgery. That work matters. But according to the World Health Organization, roughly 2.2 billion people worldwide live with some form of vision impairment, and the leading cause is not cataract. It is uncorrected refractive error, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
For someone with severe nearsightedness, that can mean being functionally blind without glasses. Everyday tasks like working, cooking, or simply moving through the day become a challenge. And in many parts of the world, even reliable glasses are hard to come by.
The Visual Freedom Foundation was founded to focus on this need alone, with a mission of offering modern vision correction in the developing world.
Why EVO ICL, and What It Meant to One Patient
EVO ICL is an implantable collamer lens placed inside the eye to correct nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism. Unlike LASIK, it does not remove corneal tissue, which makes it a strong option for patients with high prescriptions. It is the same advanced refractive surgery Dr. Nasser performs for patients in Dallas-Fort Worth.
“We weren’t simply restoring sight,” said Dr. Nasser, a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained refractive surgeon. “We were bringing advanced refractive technology to underserved communities where access is extremely limited.”
One patient was a young woman who works in a local market. Severe myopia had kept her dependent on thick glasses her entire life. After her EVO ICL procedure, she said she felt as though she had been “born anew.”
“That moment really captures why we do this,” Dr. Nasser said. “For someone who has spent their life dependent on thick glasses and limited by poor vision, the transformation is extraordinary.”
Built to Last Beyond the Visit
Many missions perform procedures and leave. This one was designed to keep going after the team flew home.
During the mission, the team trained two local surgeons in EVO ICL surgery. That training lays the groundwork for a permanent refractive surgery program in the region, so patients in and around Cusco can continue to receive care from surgeons in their own community.
The team worked alongside Dr. Nathan Henson, Dr. Christian Becker, and the team at La Fuente in Cusco. Visiting surgeons described the center as a model of excellence in refractive care and a blueprint for how global refractive surgery should be done.
“It’s about service,” Dr. Nasser said. “It’s about educating others and hoping that we can all grow this community together.”
The team hopes to bring this same sustainable model to other underserved regions around the world.
Innovation, Education, and Service
For Dr. Nasser, the mission brought together the three things that guide his work as a surgeon.
“This mission was about more than surgery,” he said. “It was about expanding visual freedom, empowering local surgeons, and creating a sustainable model. It truly represents the intersection of innovation, education, and humanitarian service.”
That same approach shapes how our team cares for patients at home. The skill and judgment Dr. Nasser brought to Cusco are the same he brings to every consultation and every procedure in Irving and McKinney.
Our digital marketing partner, Glacial Multimedia, traveled with us to Cusco to film and photograph the mission. Their work captures the patients, the surgeons, and the quiet moments in between, so this story can reach people who may not know how many lives are limited by uncorrected vision. Raising that awareness is part of the mission too, because every person who learns about the need is one more voice that can help meet it.
Tylock Nasser Vision is grateful to STAAR Surgical, Glacial Multimedia, and the many partners who helped make this mission possible.
EVO ICL and Vision Correction in Dallas-Fort Worth
If you have struggled with high nearsightedness, thin corneas, or have been told you are not a good candidate for LASIK, EVO ICL may be an option worth exploring. Tylock Nasser Vision offers EVO ICL alongside LASIK, PRK, refractive lens exchange, and modern laser cataract surgery at our offices in Irving and McKinney.
Our doctors bring more than 40 years of combined experience and have completed over 100,000 laser vision correction procedures. Every treatment plan begins with a thorough consultation, so you understand your options and can choose the one that fits your eyes and your life.
To find out whether EVO ICL is right for you, call 972-258-6400 or schedule a consultation at tylock.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Visual Freedom Foundation?
The Visual Freedom Foundation was founded to focus on uncorrected refractive error, with a mission of offering modern vision correction in the developing world. The Cusco mission was its first global refractive surgery mission.
What is EVO ICL?
EVO ICL is an implantable collamer lens placed inside the eye to correct nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism. It works alongside your natural lens and does not remove corneal tissue.
Who is a good candidate for EVO ICL?
EVO ICL is often a strong fit for people with moderate to high nearsightedness, including some who are not candidates for LASIK. A consultation with Dr. Nasser’s team is the best way to know for sure.
Who is Dr. Taj Nasser?
Dr. Taj Nasser is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained refractive surgeon. He is the Medical Director of Tylock Nasser Vision in Irving and McKinney, Texas.
Where can I get EVO ICL in Dallas-Fort Worth?
Tylock Nasser Vision offers EVO ICL at its Irving and McKinney offices. Call 972-258-6400 to schedule a consultation.
