Blindness due to cataracts is the most frequent cause of blindness in developing countries and affects many children. Fiji is not spared from this debilitating health issue.

Access to facilities and qualified doctors is very difficult and expensive and many Fijians live in isolated communities. Many families with low income cannot afford to pay for cataract surgery and this significantly affects the education potential, work capacity and the quality of life.

Each year a team of Australians consisting of highly qualified eye surgeons, an anesthetist, theatre sisters and support people work at Lautoka hospital. The team carry out eye assessments, performing operations and counseling patients.

Local staff are trained to use medical equipment and to carry out basic eye care . The project aims to be able to train staff to continue with complex surgery upon the completion of the project in 2010.

This project began in 2006 and is coordinated through the Methodist Church in Fiji. It is jointly funded by St Clair Uniting Church in Sydney and UnitingWorld.

2011 Updates

This year an 11 day clinic will be held in Fiji in August at Lautoka Hospital. It is expected that around 120 patients, including 5 children, will directly benefit from eye surgery in 2011.

In 2010, the Australian team who traveled to Fiji were able to train one local doctor and two local nurses in basic eye care. The local medical team were also able to carry out post operative clinics. The aim is that rt least one further local doctor and two nurses will be trained in complex eye surgery by 2013. This will enable the clinic to eventually be carried out entirely by local  health workers.

Downloadable Resources:

Project Sheet