For the first time since the pandemic, Volunteer Ophthalmic Services Overseas’ (VOSO’s) chair Dr Andrew Riley and I made a five-day visit to Nuku'alofa in Tonga in September. A regular volunteer, this was Dr Riley’s 15th trip and my fourth. VOSO’s small team was focused on collegial support and helping Vaiola Hospital’s 10 full-time eye department staff upskill.
The staff were delighted to have VOSO return. They have felt quite isolated during the pandemic and were impacted by the volcanic eruption and tsunami. We were both quite taken aback when we travelled to the western side of the island, where the tsunami had struck, as it had swept away everything, leaving just a deserted beach.
In the clinic, Dr Riley examined patients, often with complex eye disease, and mentored eyecare practitioner (ECP) Savelina Veamatahau on laser treatments and intravitreal injections. There were several interesting cases, including an iris bombe which was treated with laser peripheral iridotomy; an only seeing eye which erupted, with biopsy indicating basal cell carcinoma; and homonymous hemianopia with nystagmus, which was sent for imaging.
