The Cleveland Clinic has announced a $10 million gift from the Timken Foundation of Canton in support of an expansion of its Cole Eye Institute.

The project will nearly double the size of the institute, enabling it to meet growing demand for eye care, research, and education. The gift also will establish the Louise Timken Ophthalmic Education Center, enhancing the work of the Louise Timken Microsurgical Educational Laboratory, which was created in 2013 with a $1 million gift from the Timken Foundation and named in honor of the first non-military female pilot to own and fly jet aircraft — a flying career that ended in 1992 after Timken's eyesight deteriorated.

According to the clinic, the rate of serious eye conditions requiring specialized care is steadily increasing in the United States, due largely to a growing elderly population.

"This most recent gift will move forward the architectural plans for the expansion of the Cole Eye Institute," said Daniel F. Martin, chair of the Cole Eye Institute and the Barbara and A. Malachi Mixon III Institute Chair of Ophthalmology. "Through this future expansion, we will expand our clinical and surgical capabilities while enhancing eye research and our educational programs, building upon the phenomenal success of the Louise Timken Microsurgical Educational Laboratory."

"We applaud the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute’s commitment to advancing care and cures for the aging and genetic diseases of the eye," said Ambassador W.R. Timken, Jr., a trustee of the Timken Foundation. "Our foundation is committed to supporting high impact projects and quality eye care services are a necessity for America’s aging population. We are proud to provide this gift to start the architectural and design plans for the expansion of the Cole Eye Institute to serve its growing patient base."