SOMERSET NHS Foundation Trust consultant ophthalmologist Mr Indy Sian used his annual leave to improve the healthcare of those most at need in rural Cambodia.

As part of a team of eye doctors and support workers, who this year visited some of the poorest villages in Cambodia to provide vital care and treatment, Mr Indy Sian helped provide vital care and treatment.

Many of the individuals that Indy and his team supported lived through the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s and have had little or no access to eye care during their lifetime.

Mr. Sian said: “I was first introduced to this project, called the Khmer Sight Foundation, 18 months ago,

“We essentially spent the next 12 months getting a team together that consisted of six surgeons, three scrub colleagues, two opticians, an anaesthetist and a group of local volunteers.”

As a corneal and cataract surgeon, Indy Sian performs a lot of complex cataract surgeries, a condition that most of the people who live in these rural Cambodian villages have.

They also tend to have various growths on the front of their eyes – these are the type of ailments that needed treatment from the team.

The team brought along donated glasses, as well as pieces of equipment that are no longer being used in the UK.

Mr Sian and his team dealt with high numbers of patients during their time in Cambodia. Four of the team assessed individuals as they arrived, and they had three theatre beds operating at any one time.

“It was literally an eye opener, as Cambodia is a developing country and a lot of the equipment, they were using was understandably not to the high standard we have here.

“We did our very best to give all the patients good outcomes, and it was great to see them over the next few days for their follow-ups, as we could track the level of improvement the treatment had made for them – they were so grateful.

“In all, we managed to treat a significant number of individuals, and we came back home with a real feel-good factor.

“One of the main things I learned during my visit was that all the people who were part of the project, and those providing care in Cambodia, are very kind and have respect for all individuals.

“I’ve told all my colleagues and friends across the UK about this amazing charity, and I’m trying to promote it as much as I can, so they might consider taking some time to help with the project too. Ideally, I’d love to make a return to Cambodia in a couple of years to help again too.”