Source: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center
Written by: Wei Chunfu
Translated by: Zhang Saijia
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On July 23, led by Secretary Yu Minbin and Vice Secretary Pan Yunhua, the medical team of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center entered Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province to provide free medical consultations and cataract surgeries. This is the first ophthalmic medical team to enter Yushu after the earthquake in 2010.
Due to the high altitude of Yushu, the strong ultraviolet rays have caused harm to the eyes of the Tibetan herdsmen. People over 40 bear a high incidence of cataract and some even suffer from cataract in their 30s. Members of the medical team threw themselves into the busy and intense work of consultations and surgeries as soon as they arrived at the People’s Hospital of Yushu County. On that evening, they stayed in the wards with the Tibetan patients but failed to fall asleep because of the high altitude reaction.

On the next day, each member took on multiple duties including asking medical history, examining eye grounds, cleaning tear ducts, measuring intraocular pressure, optometry, checking eyesight, removing surgical dressings, disinfecting with Povidone Iodine, and washing eyes. The medical team also went to the nursing home in Yushu to offer free diagnosis to the elderly, bringing all kinds of ophthalmic drugs and explaining with great patience how to use them.

On the third day, when the doctors removed the surgical dressings for the cataract patients, they all smiled and couldn’t help thumbing up. A Tibetan child with congenital cataract saw the colorful world in front him after the surgery. He looked at his hands in great curiosity and in tears.

According to statistics, 133 free surgeries were performed and over 800 people benefited from this free diagnosis activity. The donated medicines were worth more than 30,000 yuan. The medical team of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center brought brightness to the patients in Yushu and took the initiative to undertake social responsibilities of a public hospital.