History

During World War II, Vicksburg native, Alston Callahan, M.D. was in charge of the Eye Unit of the U.S. Army Northington General Hospital located in Tusculoosa, Alabama. Dr. Roy Kracke, the first Dean of the four year medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham invited Dr. Callahan to lecture the medical students. Dr. Callahan quickly realized the tremendous potential for developing an eye center in Birmingham and relocated with his family in 1946.

In 1950, Dr. Callahan's dreams of building an eye specialty hospital began to come true. Five year old Barbara Ingalls, whose eyes had been crossed since infancy was referred to Dr. Callahan. Dr. Callahan was able to straighten her eyes by prescribing her with strong glasses and by giving her eye muscle exercises.

When Barbara's grandfather, Robert I. Ingalls Sr., founder of Ingalls Ironworks and Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation realized that he had not been sent a bill for Dr. Callahan's services, he demanded one immediately. Rather than submit a personal charge, Dr. Callahan asked Mr. Ingalls to help indigent children in need of eye care by donating $20,000 to purchase a lot which would be the ideal location for the an eye hospital. Mr. Ingalls challenged Dr. Callahan to raise $10,000 within a week and he would match it. Dr. Callahan was successful and a dream became reality as the Callahan Eye Foundation, Inc. embarked on a mission of providing the best possible eye care to all who needed it regardless of their ability to pay.

The Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital opened its doors for the public in 1963. In 1971, The Callahan Eye Foundation's ophthalmology residency training program combined with The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). This program has trained over 200 ophthalmologists since it's inception.

In July 1997, The Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital became a part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System. As a part of the health system, The Callahan Eye Foundation maintains it's mission to provide quality eye care, offers an ophthalmology residency program and participates cooperatively with UAB in the research of eye diseases. As a result of the sale, the previously heard of Callahan Eye Foundation Inc. created a new 501c3 organization The Alabama Eye Institute, which now possesses a total endowment of $65 million and whose mission is to promote research, teaching, and indigent care related to the human eye.

In September of 1999, The Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital was renamed Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital in honor of its founder Alston Callahan, M.D.

The Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital offers the only 24 hour, 7 day a week eye emergency room in the state of Alabama. Cox -Thomas Ocular Prosthetics lab is located in The Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital. The Lion's Eye Clinic has been a viable part of the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital since 1977, the clinic enables The Callahan Eye Foundation to treat patient's regardless of their ability to pay. A dedicated laser suite contains YAG, Argon, Excimer and other approved lasers. Eight complete, superbly equipped ophthalmology operating rooms are available for the 30 active physicians on staff. The Callahan Eye Foundation is also pleased to be a leader in ophthalmology research, with six research labs and projects that range from a Driving Assessment Clinic to progressive Macular Degeneration Research.