Surgeons can learn new skills during global ophthalmology programs
Key takeaways:
- Surgeons can teach and learn from local ophthalmologists during global outreach programs.
- Innovations and skills learned abroad can be brought home to help patients.
KOLOA, Hawaii — Global ophthalmology gives surgeons a chance to lend a hand and learn new things, according to a speaker at Hawaiian Eye 2025.
Cathleen M. McCabe, MD, a veteran of ophthalmology outreach efforts around the world, including in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Armenia and more, said these trips provide ophthalmologists a chance to work with local doctors.
“We spend a lot of time educating the local ophthalmologists as well as being educated by them,” McCabe said. “A lot of the tips and tricks I’ve learned have been not only by them watching what I do, but we also mentor and watch what they do and learn some new things as well.”
McCabe said in these settings, it is not uncommon to see patients with traumatic eye injuries who have gone for weeks or months without care. There also can be complications from not having the usual equipment or procedures that surgeons might normally have access to in the United States.
McCabe said phacoemulsification is not available for her trips to Kenya, so she performs small-incision cataract surgery using a miLOOP (Zeiss) to break up dense cataracts. When no traditional vitrector was available for another case in Africa, McCabe’s team was able to procure a battery-operated vitrector and two 9-volt batteries to give just enough power to finish a vitrectomy. In other cases in which a vitrector was not available, McCabe said she used fine Vannas scissors to manually cut away vitreous.
If surgeons are interested in getting involved in global ophthalmology outreach, McCabe said they could reach out to colleagues with experience to help them get started. If they are unable to travel, she said virtual mentorship and teaching are options.
“These kinds of experiences keep you flexible and innovative, building relationships and allowing you to bring those skills you learn and innovations back home to help your patients,” McCabe said.
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McCabe CM. Tricks I learned in challenging international settings. Presented at: Hawaiian Eye 2025; Jan. 18-24, 2025; Koloa, Hawaii.
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