47 eye camps so far. The interest in the visually impaired stems from the work MIAT started in Bosnia in 1992. We initially supplied sticks for the blind and Braille machines. Over the last 10 years we have been involved with cataract camps in South Africa, India and Pakistan. Each operation costs £30 and we have operated on over 10,000 patients both adults and children. We also support eye care during our visits.
We employ the services of local surgeons. Vision International carry out the operations free. Eye camps are held twice a year. In our work we have been helped by donations from Oak Tree Trust who recently sponsored a full camp of 260 patients.
2015 was the turning point for MIAT. A chance discussion with Dr Sharma a fellow deputy Lieutenant colleague of Professor Gatrad, Akmal Siddiqui, a consultant ophthalmologist, was introduced to him. She visited Pakistan and set up the Refraction Service (80% 0f patients only need glasses) and on her recommendation, an optometrist has been appointed. A typical day’s work is:
Name. Age. Problem. Management
1- 56yrs old Conjuctivitis. Medication
2-. 41 yrs old Presbyopic. N.V glass
3-. 50 yrs old. Presbyopic. N.V glass
4- 25 yrs old. Emmetropic . N.A
5- 15 yrs old Headache Medication
6-. 4 yrs old . Emmetropic. N.A
7- 16. yrs old Iris and lens deformity R/f. Surg
8- 4 yrs old 8 Presbyopic. N.V glass
9- 19 yrs old. Myopia. D.V glass
10 41 yrs old. Chalazion R/f Surg
11 25 yrs old. Eye twich. Medication
12. 55 yrs old Conjuctivitis. Medication
13 57 yrs old Presbyopic N.V glass
15. 32 yrs old Emmetropic. N.A
16. 3 yrs old 3 Emmetropic. N.A
Prof Gatrad is working with cbm – an international charity to help collaborate work of MIAT which very soon will involve the care of diabetic eyes – a condition that leads to blindness and is completely preventable. Funding is in place to purchase lazer machines for such a venture
A historic moment – Syeda Akmal – a consultant Opthalmologist from Manchester has set up an ‘Eye Unit’ – primarily to prevent blindness. Here she is teaching and training on glaucoma detection and detecting diabetic retinopathy.
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