Start Date: May 18, 2023
End Date: August 23, 2023
My story before the fellowship:
Before embarking on this fellowship, I was a general ophthalmologist specializing in paediatric ophthalmology. While my primary focus was on treating children, I felt the need to expand my surgical skills and knowledge, particularly in cataract surgery, to better serve my patients.
My story during the fellowship
During the first week of my fellowship, I started learning how to diagnose patients in the outpatient department. By the second week, I was transferred to the surgery department where I learned Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS). Senior doctors at the hospital guided me through each step of the surgery. After a week of close supervision, I began performing surgeries under the watchful eye of a consultant doctor.Within a month, I was performing surgeries independently. Throughout the fellowship, I received invaluable advice and support from all the doctors, which made the learning process smooth. Coming from a background in paediatric ophthalmology, I initially lacked comprehensive theoretical knowledge in cataract surgery. To bridge this gap, I diligently studied using books, websites, and videos.Language was another challenge I faced. Although the hospital staff spoke English and helped me communicate with patients, I found that most people in the area spoke very little English. This experience underscored the importance of learning the local language for doctors coming from abroad.
During my two months in the fellowship, I performed a total of 53 SICS surgeries. Out of these, 10 cases had complications such as posterior capsule rupture (PCR),
zonular dialysis (ZD), buttonhole, and iridodialysis. The complications were managed with the help of senior doctors, and patients vision generally improved a few days after surgery. In July, I started learning Phacoemulsification (Phaco) surgery. I was initially given simpler cases and, as with SICS, I started performing the surgeries independently after a week of training. I found that Phaco surgeries tended to heal faster and with less redness compared to SICS surgeries. The visual status of patients consistently improved by 1-2 lines the day after surgery, which was very rewarding for me.
Status of patients consistently improved by 1-2 lines the day after surgery, which was very rewarding for me.Every workday began with postoperative checkups from 8:00 am to 9:00 am before surgeries. This routine helped me track patient progress and refine my techniques
My story after the fellowship:
At the end of August, I returned to Mongolia and began applying what I had learned. I took a job at a hospital for the elderly, where I could diagnose patients but couldn’t perform surgeries due to a lack of equipment. When surgical treatment was necessary, we referred patients to private hospitals. Since my return, I have performed 20 surgeries—15 Phaco and 8 SICS—at a private clinic. The most challenging aspects for me have been cortex aspiration and managing floppy iris syndrome.
I made many friends in India, and we continue to stay in touch. This network has been a great support system as I continue to grow in my career.
How this fellowship helped me support underprivileged people in my area:
The fellowship has significantly improved my ability to understand and treat elderly patients. I’ve started offering free ophthalmology examinations and discounted surgeries to ensure that patients do not have to wait long for treatment.
The process I followed to help underprivileged people:
I began by providing free ophthalmology examinations and discounted surgeries to make eye care accessible
In 2023, with the support of The Vision Mission by Dr. Jayant V. Lyer, I learned Small Incision Cataract Surgery and Phacoemulsification at Trilochan Eye Hospital, Sambalpur, Orissa, India from May to September. This was the best experience of my ophthalmology career. I am grateful to the team for their support and knowledge. I hope many more ophthalmologists from Mongolia will have the opportunity to attend this program in the future accessible to everyone.
