A total of 345 Jamaicans are now able to see the world more clearly after receiving life-changing cataract surgeries during a five-day medical mission held from July 6 to 11 at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).

The surgeries were performed by a visiting team of ophthalmologists from Duke University in North Carolina, USA, working alongside KPH’s ophthalmology team in a collaboration that combined international expertise with local excellence. Led by Dr Lloyd Williams, team leader of the Duke University Mission, the specialists partnered with KPH’s Eye Clinic under the leadership of Dr Michelle Leighton, consultant ophthalmologist, to provide free cataract surgeries to patients whose vision had been severely affected and who were on the waiting list. Leighton described the mission as a tremendous success.

“Beyond the impressive number of surgeries completed, it has significantly improved the quality of life of our patients. We also benefited tremendously from the exchange of knowledge and supplies between the Duke University team and our ophthalmologists at KPH. We look forward to strengthening this valuable partnership in the future,” she said.