Sep 09 2014
Reflection on Cataract Trip in June 2014 (Yip Ka Man)
20-24 June 2014 Cataract Trip - Reflections with Pictures
The service trip was an invaluable experience outside the medical curriculum to understand the health and circumstances of the people in Qing Yuan in respect to their lifestyles. Alike most other girls in Hong Kong, I was not frequently exposed to services in less developed areas or countries, therefore the cataract trip was my first challenge to step out of my comfort zone into the rural areas of China.
During the service trip, I was introduced to various eye examinations, such as the slit-lamp evaluation (裂隙燈) [Fig. 1] and the ultrasonic pachymetry (A 超), to differentiate between the two main eye disorders: pterygium (胬肉) and cataract (白内障). Pterygium is the corneal growth of the conjunctiva which led to the disturbance of vision, while cataract is the opacification of the lens within the eyes which led to blurred vision.
Fig 1 The slit-lamp evaluation performed by the doctor
Pterygium is prevalent to farmers in Qing Yuan due to their persistent exposure to UV-light, while most people in Hong Kong are not presented with such physically demanding work related to the risks of these medical conditions.
On the other hand, cataract is a common disease among the elderly, however a significant proportion of the population in Qing Yuan may not receive immediate medical treatment until irreversible damage has occurred to the structural components of their eyes. In China, an ophthalmic surgeon is restricted to a limited number of operations per day, and thus most patients are allocated to the next assigned cataract trip. The elderly, who received the surgeries, expressed their heartfelt gratitude towards the medical staff and volunteers [Fig. 2]. During the post-operative examinations, an elderly repeatedly commented on the brightness around her and was echoed with the voices of others patients from their successful operations. Their appreciation was the motivation for the participants in the service trips. Their situation contrasts with the robust medical system in Hong Kong which ensures prompt medical attention to the people in need. In the blessed environment, patients often focus their medical experience on the long waiting hours or post-surgical complications and may oversee the efforts and struggles of healthcare workers.
Fig 2 The elderly’s delight towards the success of the cataract surgery
Although the living standard in Qing Yuan is comparatively low, one could appreciate the intimacy within a family – what most people in Hong Kong failed to cherish in their luxurious life. When was the last time we had dinner with our grandparents? A young girl accompanied her grandparent throughout the examination process to guide and comfort her [Fig. 3]. Her care for the elderly reminded us to ruminate on the influence of technology on the bonding of people. In their world, health and love of the family contribute to their happiness, instead of the technology and entertainment in our advanced yet socially detached world.
Fig 3 The young girl who was accompanying her grandmother during the examination
The trip was not only encompassed in joy and excitement, there were also situations which revealed the lack of medical support in Qing Yuan. On the second day of the trip, a 7-year-old girl with impaired left eyesight came to the medical centre for walk-in consultations. Upon further investigations, the doctor confirmed that the girl’s left eye had degenerated and therefore should not be able to perceive light or stimulus at all. In other words, the little girl had been concealing the condition of her eyesight from her parents over the past few years. Then the doctor comforted the little girl with empathy and suggested the implantation of an artificial eye as an alternative to the parents. Being aware of her situation, the little girl burst into tears and left the centre with her parents. The doctor later explained to us that early diagnosis and treatment could probably prevent the degeneration of her left eye – situations which are avoidable under the competent healthcare system in Hong Kong.
In general, the service trip in Qing Yuan reflected how fortunate and blissful we are to live in Hong Kong. We often indulge in the materialistic aspect of life, but neglect the essence of love, care and support to the less fortunate individuals. As a student, I have buried myself in academics and personal interests for the past year; however this trip has revitalized my passion to serve the community and reignited my determination to become a medical professional. In the future, I will seek more opportunities to engage in other health-related services because “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” [Fig. 4]
Fig 4 The elderly, assisted by the volunteers, aboard the coach for the cataract surgery
Fig 5 The group photo of the elderly and volunteers on the second day of the service trip
YIP Ka Man [HKU] M19
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