A 12-day free eye surgery campaign in Trinidad and Tobago provided treatment to 3,000 people, after the Church of the 7th Day Adventists worked with partner organisations and volunteer surgeons to clear the massive backlog of cataract operations.

The work took place at the Community Hospital of the 7th Day Adventists in Cocorite between May 14 and May 26, where patients arrived for procedures that many could not otherwise afford.

The initiative covered cataracts, which cloud the lens of the eye, and pterygium, a non-cancerous growth also known as surfer's eye. The latter is often linked to long exposure to ultraviolet light, dust and wind. Together, the surgeries removed two common causes of vision loss for island communities.

In many cases, even the pre-surgical screening had been out of financial reach.

By the end of the drive, hundreds of patients a day were being treated at the hospital for cataract and pterygium surgery. Organisers said the campaign was intended to reduce a backlog that had left many people waiting for treatment.

The campaign used a high-volume cataract surgery technique to treat around 450 patients a day. Organisers said it was designed for efficiency in a short window.

The operations were carried out by volunteer surgeons, with support from the Church of the 7th Day Adventists and the non-profits Hands International and Eyes for India. The partnership was formed to provide surgery for patients who could not easily access treatment, including those with limited means.

Patients regained sight after years of waiting

Some patients had also been unable to afford the screening tests needed before surgery. That left many people living with poor sight for long periods before they were able to receive treatment.

Tobago-born Dr Reynold Agard, president of Hands International, said the project had been designed to tackle a serious backlog.

“Our target was approximately 4,000 cataract surgeries,” he said. “When we replace that lens, people see again. Colours become sharper. Night blindness improves. It changes quality of life.”

Fast recovery and practical care

Most of the procedures were described as minimally invasive, which meant patients improved quickly and many were discharged soon after treatment. That speed was important in a high-volume setting, where the aim was to treat as many people as possible within the 12-day window.

Alexander Isaac, Health Ministries Director for the Caribbean Union Conference, said the church saw health work as part of its wider mission.

“Healthcare ministry remains one of the most effective ways for the church to engage communities and reveal Christ’s love in practical ways,” he said. “As we care for people physically, we also create opportunities to minister to spiritual needs.”

A wider lesson for island communities

The campaign in Cocorite showed how church-led partnerships and volunteer medical teams could deliver a large volume of surgery over a short period. It also pointed to the scale of unmet demand for routine eye care. It raises questions about how much routine eye care remains out of reach for low-income patients, and what more formal health services can do to reduce the backlog.