Eyeworld

EW CATARACT 30 August 2017 by Rich Daly EyeWorld Contributing Writer Cataract editor's corner of the world participating in such a program," Dr. MacDonald said. Dr. MacDonald noted that many academic practices view humanitari- an work as part of their mission. For instance, the Lahey Clinic where she works has a humanitarian depart- ment that allows surgeons to take a week every year to do humanitarian work. There's also dedicated educa- tional time. "They certainly could craft an argument to have this supported as educational time because it's a learning experience to be around Physicians with experience doing volunteer cataract surgery internationally offer insights for those looking to undertake such service T he first step to addressing the international cataract crisis is making a personal decision. "You have to make a decision on whether it is important to you or not," said Larry Patterson, MD, Crossville, Tennessee. The key to undertaking such volunteer work is deciding if it is worth it to take a week off from a busy practice once a year, every oth- er year, or even once every 5 years. "You can do a whole lot of good in one week," Dr. Patterson said. On a practical level, perform- ing international volunteer surgery might mean surgeons need to use a week they would otherwise use for a vacation. But that doesn't mean they will lose out on everything a vacation offers. "The purpose [of a vacation] is to take a break and recharge your batteries, and sometimes these trips, even though you are working most of the time, serve a similar purpose," said Dr. Patterson, who has taken more than a dozen trips to perform cataract surgery in rural Mexico, Guatemala, and the Kingdom of Tonga. "They certainly give you a new perspective on life and work and an appreciation of what you have." Sriranjani Padmanabhan, MD, clinical instructor, University of California, San Francisco, has seen physicians bring along their fami- lies, including children, who help out. "It helps to minimize the reluc- tance about spending your free time away from your family and invests everyone productively in a truly unforgettable experience," said Dr. Padmanabhan, who spent a year working in developing countries through an academic fellowship. "If you make the effort to get to know your in-country ophthalmologists and staff on a professional and per- sonal level, the trip won't feel like work at all." Balancing practice and service: International cataract surgery M any of us think about doing vol- unteer work abroad. Some of us do devote time to volunteer work, whether it is teaching residents, helping those locally who are less fortunate, or doing international work. In this "Cataract editor's corner of the world," Drs. Patterson, Padmanabhan, and MacDonald share insights into the logistics, planning, and gratification of performing international cataract surgery in less affluent countries. It is not always easy to find the time or funding to do this work, but these surgeons give us ideas on how to best optimize the opportunity and the experience. Perhaps some of us will be motivated to take that first step in using our skills to help educate and take care of those less fortunate than us. Rosa Braga-Mele, MD, Cataract editor Dr. Patterson with a patient 1 day postop cataract surgery Dr. Patterson with children in the rural Mexican village where he volunteers. Source: Larry Patterson, MD Finding the time There are a range of opportunities to address the leading challenge of finding the time to perform vol- unteer service. Susan MacDonald, MD, associate clinical professor, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, noted some institutions sup- port volunteer work, and academic settings allow sabbaticals. "Depending on the institution you work for or the private practice, you could create an opportunity for the members of your practice to donate time to one of their surgeons

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