This summer, Visionaries International invited Eversight Partner Development Director Michael Szkarlat to collaborate in training international ophthalmologists and restore sight to those in need in Southeast Asia.
Over two weeks, Michael traveled to Vietnam and Thailand, working alongside local medical professionals and U.S. surgeons to share critical skills, resources and knowledge in corneal transplant surgery and tissue preparation.
“This work is a testament to Eversight’s commitment to creating a world without blindness, providing both surgical tissue and training in an effort to develop sustainable eye care in Southeast Asia,” he said.
Week 1: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Eversight provided 16 surgical corneas, four PKP, eight DSAEK and four DMEK, and an additional 20 training corneas to practice donor tissue preparation for DMEK.
“One of the main challenges in Vietnam is the lack of locally available tissue, making it difficult for surgeons to perform these life-changing procedures,” Michael said. “To address this gap, we conducted two DMEK preparation wet labs, training four surgeons on preparing the grafts themselves. This skill is essential for the region as there is no sustainable access to DMEK-prepared tissue, forcing local surgeons to rely on whole corneas.”
Eversight joined Dr. Aldave, who was proctoring the surgeries, and Dr. Soham Basak from Disha Eye Hospital in India, who added his expertise as well. Together, they ensured that all 16 surgical corneas were successfully transplanted, bringing hope to patients and providing a second chance at sight.
Week 2: Bangkok, Thailand
After completing his work in Vietnam, Michael headed to Bangkok, Thailand to collaborate with the Thai Red Cross Society Eye Bank.
“Our goal was to train a technician to prepare DMEK tissue, a process not yet adopted in Thailand,” Michael said. “Currently, Thai surgeons prepare tissue for DMEK surgery themselves, which is not sustainable due to the time needed and the risk for damaging the tissue.”
Eversight provided 18 training corneas, along with the necessary instruments and supplies donated by Stephens Instruments and Moria Surgical.
“What made this experience unique was that the technician in training had already learned the basics of DMEK preparation through online resources like YouTube,” he said. “This allowed me to focus on refining her skills, ensuring she mastered the more nuanced details of the process.”
The Thai Red Cross Eye Bank, responsible for the retrieval, screening, processing and distribution of about 1,500 corneas per year, was perfectly positioned to take this next step in tissue preparation.
“With donation rates on the rise, Thailand is becoming a leader in both eye banking and cornea care,” Michael said.
Reflections overseas
This visit reinforced the stark differences between eye care in Southeast Asia and the U.S., where corneal tissue is far more accessible.
“In countries in Southeast Asia, patients often wait months or even years for sight-restoring surgery,” Michael said. “However, the dedication and passion of the local medical professionals inspire hope for a brighter future.”
The Vietnam visit was crucial in restoring vision and independence to those in need. Thailand has the infrastructure, expertise and passion needed to allow this training to help the Thai Red Cross Society Eye Bank better serve the community.
Looking forward
As Eversight continues its global work, opportunities like this are crucial. The need for corneal transplants in Southeast Asia is vast, but the progress made in places like Thailand shows that making vision a reality for people worldwide is possible.
“By sharing our expertise and resources, we can help build sustainable systems that provide the gift of sight to those who need it most,” Michael said.
This fall, Eversight donated 10 whole corneas to the Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital. They arrived on Monday, November 4, and surgeries were completed by November 7. Five of those corneas were able to be prepared by the local surgeons for DMEK surgery. All five DMEK grafts were successfully transplanted.
“This is an extension of the training that was done at Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital in July where Dr. Aldave taught DMEK surgery, and I taught DMEK preparation using training corneas,” Michael said. “On that trip we were unable to prepare any of the tissues for DMEK because we brought prepared DMEK tissue."
"Now, they are able to use those skills to take whole corneas and turn them into DMEK grafts themselves, opening up new surgical options for their patients.”
Eversight is committed to partnering with local organizations, surgeons and eye banks to ensure that all patients, no matter where they live, have access to the care they deserve.
Learn more about Eversight’s global vision and contribute to this important work.
