Images of all the eye camps can be viewed in the gallery at the bottom of this page

Burma

In April 2004, I had the privelage of making a visit to Burma with my colleague and good friend Mr Ali Mearza FRCOphth. Based at the Watchet Jivitadana Hospital, 1-2 hours outside of Mandalay, we conducted clinics that were open to everybody and took surgical cases to the operating theatre each day. We operatedfor most of the day with the bulk of the caseload comprised of very dense cataracts. Other cases included pterygia, glaucoma, trachoma and microbial keratitis. Our hosts were amongst the warmest, most hospitable (not to mention humble) people that we have met. A true pleasure to have met them and worked amongst them.

Bangladesh

In March 2008 I had the great fortune to participate in a surgical expedition in collaboration with the Impact Foundation.  This is a charity whose objective is to reduce disability around the world by advocacy, education and intervention.  Their West Sussex office is experienced in arranging for UK-based surgeons to go to centres in Asia and treat patients in the fields of orthopaedics, ENT and ophthalmology.

I travelled with my good friend and colleague, Mr Ali Mearza FRCOphth, to 2 locations: Ashuganj, capital of Brahmanbaria province to the East of Dacca, and Chuadanga in the West.  At Ashuganj, we stayed on Impact’s floating hospital.  This houses accommodation, clinics, a laboratory, a ward, a surgical suite with 2 operating tables, and a seminar room on the top deck.  At Chuadanga we found a dedicated hospital building in the conventional sense, set in the grounds of a local nobleman’s house that had been donated to Impact some time previously. 

In both settings, the staff were utterly dedicated to serving the population and the patients passed smoothly and effectively through the system from registration to post-operative examination and discharge.

Ghana

In July 2009 I was privileged to contribute to a project in the city of Ho in Ghana.  Ho is the capital of the Volta Region in the far eastern territory of Ghana, on the border with Togo.  The population of Ho is 1.5 million people and they had little eye care since the sad passing away of their ophthalmologist in early 2007.  Our objective was to help the Regional Hospital in Ho to establish an efficient surgical eye service and we were able to work with the very able and eager local staff to fulfil this objective.  We also performed a high number of cataract operations and were very pleased with the progress that had been made by the end of the journey.

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Burma

• 
  The Watchet Jivitadana Hospital
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  Patients waiting to be examined
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  One of our youngest patients, and definitely the cutest
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  Examining patients in the clinic
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  Taking a break with my good friend and colleague, Mr AliMearza FRCOphth
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  Operating for most of the day, every day was hard work….
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  ………..but fun!
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  OK. So we had 1 day off!
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  OK. So we had 1 day off!
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  At the end of the visit, the whole team felt that somethinggood had been achieved

Bangladesh

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  Surgery was performed on the Jibon Tari (‘Boat of Life’).Theoperating suite is located on the middle level and to the left.
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  Life on the opposite bank to the Jibon Tari
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  Patients wait to register. Afterwards, they will be examinedand treated.
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  The ward on the Jibon Tari receives patients after theirsurgery is completed.
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  Jibon Tari has a surgical suite with 2 operating tables.Thereare two patients being prepared for treatment.
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  Patients were disabled by advanced cataract in the majorityof cases
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  As we neared Chaudanga, the poverty of the region becameclear.
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  The hospital at Chuadanga was set in pleasant grounds
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  The surgical suite was efficient and surgery was conductedfor most of the day
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  Patients were examined 1 day post-operatively
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  At the end of some marathon surgery, the sense of fulfilmentand friendship was very rewarding.
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  At the end of some marathon surgery, the sense of fulfilmentand friendship was very rewarding.
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  We were often rewarded by their generous affection.

Ghana

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  At our base in Accra and getting ready for the 4 hour road journey to Ho. Many of our supplies were donated and shipped to Ghana in boxes
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  The service station halfway to Ho was a nice surprise
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  Typical street scenes from Ho
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  Typical street scenes from Ho
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  Patients waiting to be seen in the Eye Clinic
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  Patients waiting to be seen in the Eye Clinic
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  Getting on with the surgery!
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  Taking measurements to prepare for cataract surgery
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  Myself and Mr Ali Mearza FRCOphth performing manual small incision cataract surgery.
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  Training other surgeons was a component of the clinical schedule
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  Teamwork!!
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  Examining a patient on day 1 post-operatively
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  A sense of fulfilment among the whole team at the end of a week-long marathon of surgery
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  A final day visit to a monkey sanctuary.
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  A final day visit to a monkey sanctuary, and the monkeys enjoy the chance to feast on bananas.

 

Dr Mohammed Muhtaseb

As well as his full fellowships in corneal surgery and inflammatory eye diseases, Mr. Muhtaseb spent 9 months undertaking a full fellowship in refractive surgery, followed by independent practice as a Consultant in the United Kingdom.  This forms the foundation for advice and treatment that you can trust at i.Lase.