On a Mission: Dr. Huynh Traveled to Vietnam to Perform Eye Surgery

Vision is a precious gift. It allows us to see the world in vivid hues and provides meaningful context to our life. Vision impairment--whether by trauma, infection, or inflammation--is associated with tremendous loss of human potential and productivity. My mission as an ophthalmologist is to restore vision for those most in need.

In the spring of 2018, I traveled to Hanoi to teach local ophthalmologists at the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology (VNIO) novel techniques in cornea transplant. For a country roughly the size of California but with more than double the population, the VNIO is one of a few centers in Southeast Asia where patients can get specialized eye care and surgery. 

During the week-long trip, over 75 patients and their family members were examined and screened for surgery. Miracles in Sight, a nonprofit eyebank based in the United States, donated all the corneal tissues, allowing 16 Vietnamese patients to receive the gift of sight. 10 patients underwent Penetrating Keratoplasty "full-thickness cornea transplants" to treat large corneal scars and non-healing infections; 6 patients underwent Endothelial Keratoplasty "partial thickness cornea transplants" to correct corneal edema that could not be reversed with conventional medication. All the patients did well afterwards and were extremely grateful for their newfound vision and confidence to take on life!

If you have questions about your own eyes or would like to know if you would be a good candidate for cornea surgery, do not hesitate to make a consultation with the expert ophthalmologists at the Ventura Eye Institute. Together, we can guide you towards a better vision for tomorrow.