THE Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (CJCLDS) is on its second humanitarian mission to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in two years, this time around, providing training for ophthalmologists of the Eye Care Department, employing the use of advanced technology to perform cataract surgeries.Over the last week Dr. Aaron Smalley, ophthalmologist from Utah, USA has been delivering lectures for the local ophthalmologists in “The Introduction to Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery”, and has also conducted several surgeries at the institution.
Dr. Smalley, a graduate of the George Washington D.C. University, did his ophthalmology training at Hershey, Pennsylvania and currently resides at Utah.
He is accompanied to Guyana by his wife, Julie Smalley who, on Tuesday made a donation of some 200 reading glasses to Eye Care Guyana. The spectacles were received by Charles Vandyke, National Programme Manager who thanked the donor and said that the glasses will be distributed to deserving cases in the hinterland locations of Guyana.
Phacoemulsification, or ‘phaco’, as surgeons refer to it, is used to restore vision in patients whose vision has become cloudy from cataracts. Phacoemulsification cataract surgery is a procedure in which an ultrasonic device is used to break up and then remove a cloudy lens, or cataract, from the eye to improve vision.
The insertion of an intraocular lens (IOL) usually immediately follows phacoemulsification.
Julie Smalley outlined that phacoemulsification is an advance approach to doing cataract eye surgery today.
Some of the benefits include faster healing of the eye after surgery, with less chances of developing infection of the eye. Using the ‘phaco’ method also takes a lot smaller incision; the recovery process is a lot easier and the recovery time is drastically reduced.
It is easier for the patient to recover once the doctors understand and know how to use the machine, she said.

On Monday Dr. Smalley delivered his first lecture for ophthalmologists and general practitioners, with about 45 persons in attendance. On Thursday, he conducted another lecture at the Multi-Purpose Hall, GPHC compound.
Meanwhile, on Friday (Feb 3) he will deliver another lecture for Emergency Room doctors, training them how to respond in case of an eye emergency. He also had other engagements with Consultant Ophthalmologist, relative to the operation of the ‘phaco’ equipment.
PRESENTATION
While on their first visit to the GPHC in 2015, the CJCLDS Charities made a presentation of a phacoemulsification equipment to the institution which is being operated by Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr. Shailendra Sugrim.
Vandyke, who was the first to be operated on, using the machine, attested to the fact that Dr. Sugrim did a ‘fantastic job’ on him, using the ‘phaco’ machine. Other items in the (2015) gift package included a Slit Lamp Biomicroscope, Auto-refractor and an Indirect Ophthalmoscope.
The humanitarian gestures currently being witnessed are in keeping with a promise made on that occasion, to send an ophthalmologist to conduct a training course for the doctors here.
This package is being rolled out under the remit of Elder Thomas Peterkin and wife, Sister Catherine Peterkin. The Peterkins who are on an 18-month stay here, arrived in Guyana last November, and reside at Berbice.
Ophthalmologists benefitting from the training are Dr. Damonie Lamy and Dr. Jennel Sarju of the GPHC; Dr. Celeste Hinds of Linden and Dr. Louisa Mc Donald of Suddie, who all report to Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr Shailendra Sugrim.
Previous CJCLDS charities made donations of a Slit-Lamp Biomicroscope, Auto-refractor. The charities will also be donating some other equipment and consumables to the Department of Ophthalmology in a few weeks, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Mitzy Campbell said.
She said the GPHC is deeply appreciative of the initiative and would like to express gratitude to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
A rather elated Elder Thomas Peterkin commented: “We are so glad Dr. Smalley was able to come. We just arrived here two months ago and we are excited to be here to serve the people of Guyana the best we can. We like to do projects that will be ongoing, so we train the doctors here, and they will be able to train more doctors, so that more people would be cared for… So that’s our purpose, that’s what we are concerned about.”
His wife Catherine added: “We are so pleased to be able to work with the Georgetown Hospital. Dr. Sugrim, his staff and all the other doctors have been just wonderful and we are so touched by the warmth of the people of Guyana.”
Meanwhile, Smalley said she was amazed at the work attitude of the doctors who all showed a keen interest in learning, and were also very knowledgeable and willing to learn more. She had kudos for them, adding that the doctors and staff are doing a great job at delivering health care here.