First Public-System Corneal Transplants Performed in Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda has recorded a milestone in public healthcare, with corneal transplants being performed for the first time within the country’s public health system at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC).

Seven corneal transplants have been completed during a joint surgical mission involving the Cure Blindness Project and Trinidad Eye Hospital, according to an October 30 update from the hospital.

The teams had performed 163 procedures, including more than 120 cataract surgeries, with the mission scheduled to continue through November 1. Visiting surgeons expect the final number to approach 200.

Dr. Matthew Oliva, Board Chair of the Cure Blindness Project, is performing the corneal transplants, which can restore sight to patients whose vision has been severely affected by corneal disease or damage.

He described the introduction of the procedure into Antigua and Barbuda’s public healthcare system as particularly significant in a region where access to such specialized treatment remains limited.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see the difference that restoring someone’s sight can make, not only to that individual but also to their independence, opportunities and quality of life,” Dr. Oliva said.

The mission, which began on October 25, also marks the Cure Blindness Project’s first deployment of a surgical team to the Caribbean.

It forms part of the Prime Ministerial Vision Initiative, a national eye health programme bringing together the government and international partners, including RestoringVision, VisionSpring and the Cure Blindness Project.

SLBMC Medical Director Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis said the collaboration is helping patients access care that might otherwise be beyond their reach, while supporting the hospital’s ambition to become a regional centre of excellence for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

“Access to specialized eye care can be life-changing, but these services are often beyond the reach of many people,” she said.

Dr. Belle-Jarvis stressed that the mission’s impact should extend beyond the immediate surgical results through training, patient education and stronger relationships between local and visiting healthcare professionals.

“Our goal is not simply to provide care during a mission. It is to strengthen the systems, knowledge and relationships that will allow us to continue improving eye health long after our visiting teams have departed,” she said.

Dr. Ronnie Bhola, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Surgeon of Trinidad Eye Hospital, said the partnership has enabled the teams to offer surgery spanning the front and back of the eye, including corneal transplants, cataract operations and complex retinal procedures.

Delivering those services locally, he said, helps reduce the emotional and financial burden on patients and families who would otherwise need to travel overseas.

“Seeing the joy of patients whose sight we have helped restore reminds us that restoring vision also restores independence, livelihoods and hope for families,” Dr. Bhola said.

He added that the exchange of knowledge between visiting specialists and Antiguan colleagues is helping lay the foundation for more consistent access to specialized eye care throughout the year.

Dr. Oliva similarly identified local self-sufficiency as a central goal, saying lasting success would mean countries developing the expertise, resources and systems to provide advanced treatment independently.

The hospital also credited its eye care, administrative and support teams for coordinating patient preparation, scheduling, logistics, surgical support and postoperative care.

Dr. Belle-Jarvis said their contribution was essential to delivering a mission of this scale.

“Every procedure represents the work of many people, including those whom patients may never see,” she said.