SLBMC performs landmark eye surgery in Antigua and Barbuda

𝗢𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟭, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 (𝗦𝗟𝗕𝗠𝗖) 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗮 & 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗮. This makes Antigua the first country in the region, outside of Trinidad, where the TEH team has carried out this advanced surgery.

The surgery was performed by VR Surgeon, Dr. Ronnie Bhola, as part of a week-long initiative from September 8–12, during which more than 130 eye surgeries were completed, including vitrectomies, laser treatments, diabetic eye procedures, and pterygium surgeries.

For many patients, this represents a major turning point. In the past, those with conditions like retinal detachments often had no choice but to travel overseas at great personal cost. Now, access to these life-changing procedures is available right here at home. For patients, this means faster treatment, lower expenses, and more time with their families and support systems during recovery.

“This is another first for our hospital and for Antigua & Barbuda, and we are all proud of that,” said 𝗗𝗿. 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲-𝗝𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀, 𝗦𝗟𝗕𝗠𝗖 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿. “Sight is so closely tied to our quality of life, our ability to work, to care for our families, and to contribute to our communities and economy. Despite the challenges we face, we continue to do more for the people we serve. This achievement was only possible through the strong support of our partners—the Ministry of Health, the Medical Benefits Scheme, and the Trinidad Eye Hospital—and we are truly grateful.”

The initiative reflects SLBMC’s ongoing commitment to reducing preventable blindness and improving care for patients with diabetic eye disease—a growing concern in Antigua & Barbuda.

SLBMC extends its gratitude to all partners and healthcare professionals who made this milestone possible.

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