Board Certified Ophthalmologist at Chesapeake Eye Center, Dr. Catherine Smoot, tells us about her recent mission trip to the Island of Nevis.
Nevis is an island in the Caribbean Sea. The Nevis Eye Clinic was founded about 20 years ago and is coordinated and overseen by Dr. Ray Hubbe out of Mass under the 501C3 Vision for All. Twice a year, they take eye care teams to the island to provide access to eye services. During Dr. Smoot’s time there, she saw upwards of 60 patients a day.
Dr. Smoot says the focus is to try and intervene earlier for cases of preventable blindness, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts. The services are free to the patients and they receive free medication after their procedure.
Dr. Smoot says working there gave her a reminder of how much we have at our fingertips in the United States. Dr. Smoot says she plans to go back each spring to help out.
