OSWI team performs 2 corneal transplant surgeries

A team of visiting ophthalmologists from the Caribbean who are in Guyana for the preparation of the 28th Annual Conference of the Ophthalmological Society of the West Indies (OSWI) recently conducted two corneal transplants on patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Eye Clinic.

The Hospital and the Public Health Ministry have been hosting the visiting team of doctors from Trinidad and Barbados since October 19. Tuesday was their last day in the country as they concluded their preparatory activities for the conference, which will be hosted in Guyana from July 5-8, 2017.

OSWI is a professional society of ophthalmologists from across the Caribbean and usually rotate its annual meetings between the various member countries. This is the first time Guyana will be hosting this conference.

During the visit, the team volunteered to perform surgeries at Georgetown Public Hospital’s Eye Clinic and saw some 50 patients. Among the procedures performed were six silicone oil removals, fourteen cataract surgeries and two diabetic laser procedures, along with the two corneal transplants. The corneas used were donated to the Caribbean Eye Institute by the Lions Eye Bank of Texas.

The visiting team consisted of Dr Nigel Barker, OSWI President from Barbados; and from Trinidad and the Caribbean Eye Institute, Dr Deo Singh, Dr Sonja Johnston, Dr Terrence Allan and Dr Rishi Sharma, along with two nurses and Sasha Hossein from the Secretariat of OSWI.

The team also participated in a World Sight Day Continuing Medical Education (CME) Session for eye-care professionals, general practitioners and students last Sunday at the Herdmanston Lodge, Queenstown.