IT was a watershed moment for Guyana yesterday, when, for the first time,  corneal transplants were done at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).
Through the benevolence of Dr. Chad Rostron of the More Field Hospital in the United Kingdom, corneal transplants, which would have each cost approximately 9,000 pounds sterling, or in the United States, $15,000, were done free of charge on three patients:  Mark Baird, 40, of 3675 North Ruimveldt; Joel Franklin 41, of Sideline Dam, Tuschen; and Gary Gonsalves 37, of 7 Dantzith, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.
Dr. Rostron, who graciously consented to perform the transplants as a good will gesture, at the invitation of the GPH, arrived in Guyana on Monday, heading a team from the UK-based Ophthalmology  Hospital.
The operations entailed grafting a portion of the cornea of each eye (that portion comparable to the face of a wrist watch), which might have become damaged, either through trauma, or infection, ultimately causing the person to lose normal vision, explained Dr. George Norton Consultant , Ophthalmology at the GPH.
Dr. Norton, who worked in theatre along with the doctors, explained that, unless the damaged cornea is removed, that patient would have remained visually impaired for the rest of his life. The donor tissue was brought in from the United Kingdom by Dr. Rostron.
But while only three surgeries were done, there were about 20 candidates, and ideally the hospital would have liked to have surgeries done on at least three children who had come from the outlying regions of Port Kaituma, Region One; Lethem, Region Ten; and Kopinang, Region Eight. Unfortunately, they were not suitable candidates for the tissue available
Given the performance of his nurses in the theatre, Dr. Norton is optimistic that, should they be called upon to take on such tasks in the future, they will be able to cope.  He has commended the initiative of having corneal transplants done at the GPH, but noted that Guyana would first need legislation to allow the hospital to acquire donor tissue locally.
Meanwhile, Mark Baird, the first to have his surgery done by the doctors yesterday, minutes after his procedure, was sitting up,-  fully conscious, and what’s more – beaming with satisfaction that he would now be able to regain sight in his affected eye.  He expressed gratitude to God, and was high in praises and appreciation for the gesture of the doctors who made the surgeries possible.
His mother, Ms. Eula Baird, who sat outside the theatre waiting to escort him home later in the day, was also appreciative and said she felt confident that her son’s surgery would have been successful.
Also, Joel Franklin’s sister, Joycelyn Fraser, expressed satisfaction and relief, knowing that her brother would soon be able to return to his normal duties.  She said that initially he was scared, but she helped him build confidence. And Basmattie Gonsalves, wife of Gary Gonsalves, was equally appreciative to both  the visiting and local doctors.  The women are all prepared to play their part towards the after care, now that the surgeries have been performed.
Offering advice for after care for the patients, Dr. Norton said, “The surgeon would not want to leave these patients alone until after a year.  The patient should be seen (by the surgeon) for follow-up every month, and would be placed on medication for one year.”
He also advised that they should initially keep out of the sun.