Guyana’s public healthcare system has achieved a significant milestone in specialized eye care with the completion of its first-ever scleral buckle surgeries at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
These groundbreaking procedures took place during a week-long surgical collaboration between the World Eye Mission and the Ministry of Health, running from February 9 to 13. This project united local expertise with international support to deliver critical sight-saving interventions to patients.
The collaboration was spearheaded by Guyanese ophthalmologist Dr. Arlene Bobb-Semple, alongside visiting U.S.-based retina surgeon Dr. Krishi Peddada, who participated through the World Eye Mission.
Over five days, a total of 11 complex retinal surgeries were performed, including two scleral buckle procedures, marking a first for Guyana’s public healthcare sector. Scleral buckle surgery is a specialized technique used to repair retinal detachment by placing a flexible silicone band (the “buckle”) around the eye. This critical intervention can be used alone or in combination with other advanced techniques to treat severe or recurrent cases.
This achievement signifies a considerable enhancement of GPHC’s surgical capabilities, reducing the necessity for patients to seek costly treatment overseas. It also highlights years of investment in local expertise and infrastructure. Dr. Bobb-Semple has played a pivotal role in developing retina services at GPHC since joining the hospital in 2018 and successfully introduced complex vitreoretinal surgeries in 2021.
Due to the absence of a local ophthalmology subspecialty training program, these advancements are facilitated through a blend of overseas training and strategic international partnerships. Initiatives like this not only deliver immediate care but also provide essential hands-on training and knowledge transfer to local medical teams.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize Guyana’s healthcare system, with the aim of making highly specialized, sight-saving treatments more accessible to the population. With ongoing development, procedures like scleral buckle surgery are expected to become a standard offering within the public health sector.
