Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSIC) in Myanmar- Part 2

I wake up at 5:30 a.m. to help see post-operative patients at 6:00 a.m. Hundreds of patients gather in the hospital

lobby, waiting to be seen. In an incredibly efficient system, six to eight ophthalmic nurses remove dressings, instill drops, clean eyes, and check vision for more than 100 patients in under twenty minutes. It is a beautifully chaotic scene.

As soon as the post-ops are finished, attention shifts to the day’s scheduled surgeries. Nearly 120 patients wait in the hallways, each clutching a small paper medical record book—their ticket to surgery.

Day 5

I did not sleep a wink last night since there were probably 4 mosquitos buzzing in my ear. I usually mitigate this problem by sleeping under a blanket, but last night the power went out and without a fan, it was too hot to hide under a blanket.

My stay has overall been basic but comfortable— I have my own 1 bedroom apartment on the hospital’s campus which is equipped with basic furniture, a private bathroom, and a kitchenette. There are mosquitos, ants, beetles, worm-looking creatures, and spiders all over my room that I mostly try to ignore. The furniture is rudimentary and often broken. Paint peels from the walls. The sink water intermittently runs tan from sediment, staining all the towels and linen slightly tan. The power goes out intermittently, and when the Wi-Fi works at all, it’s painfully slow.

These are some realities of global ophthalmology, but despite it all, I also realize that I have everything I need to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

Day 6-12

We continue our eye camp at a pace of roughly 120 cataract surgeries per day— I do around 10 cases per day, while Dr. Bidya does over 100. Some days feel like a step forward while others feel like a step backward. Learning MSICs is challenging, and even harder when you’re working with different microscopes and instruments. It’s a humbling learning curve. For the most part, I’m doing cases alone independently here, with Dr. Bidya operating next to me and available in a moment’s notice if I need help with anything. His most helpful advice has been to “perfect each step before moving on to the next”—guidance that resonates with me not only in surgery, but in life.

In the evenings, before sunset, I decompress by walking around the Buddhist monastery campus. Meditation platforms and benches are scattered throughout the grounds. The campus is peaceful and beautiful, and it’s easy to feel at home here.

Day 13

Today is our first and only day off. The entire eye camp team works full speed all year long, with a day off every 8-12 days. They are the real heroes of this story! We take a group field trip to the town about 20 minutes away, where we visit Shwe Sandaw Pagoda and later enjoy a hotpot dinner together. Spending time together on these trips make me realize that despite being a world apart, these girls and I have a lot more common than may seem on the outside—when I was their age I too was preoccupied with boy bands, makeup, and just fitting in!

Day 14

My last day is bittersweet. Prior to coming, I had my worries about traveling to Myanmar given the political landscape and media portrayals. However, the country and its people met me with nothing but kindness and hospitality. As someone of Southeast Asian heritage, this trip has also reconnected with my roots-- the food, the climate, the culture …it all feels like home to me.

I am an infinitely better cataract surgeon because of my MSICs training here. Most of all, I leave completely inspired by Dr. Bidya Pant and hope to follow in his footsteps. Not only is he an amazing surgeon who is literally eliminating blindness in this world, but also someone who lives with compassion, humility, and heart.