Methods and findings on an ophthalmic mission trip to colombia

Abstract

Background: Medical ministry international (MMI) is a Canadian charitable organization that coordinates healthcare missions to underserved people in developing countries. Objective: We report on the baseline clinical findings of a mission trip to Ciénaga de Oro, Colombia, present the methods used in the mission and the efforts to establish a local eye care service with long-term sustainability. Methods: Data were collected on patients seen during a 2-week mission trip from January 13 to 24, 2020. Data included eye health and the services given. Results: Altogether 5529 patients were seen by the team. Nearly 247 surgeries were performed by ophthalmologists. The most common diagnosis performed was a refractive error, for which 4066 patients (74%) received eyeglasses. Another 835 (15%) had a consultation by an ophthalmologist, of which 260 (5%) received surgery, mostly manual small incision cataract surgery and intraocular lens insertion. Conclusions and Importance: MMI is helping to reduce the prevalence of preventable blindness in the Ciénaga de Oro population; however, further training to increase the capacity of local ophthalmic services is required to improve long-term eye care to the community.

Keywords

• cataracts
• developing country
• medical mission trip
• preventable blindness
• strabismus
• vision impairment