CRC Hosts International Fellows In Vitreoretinal Surgery

In an effort to expand the clinical training and education of ophthalmologists around the world, the doctors of California Retina Consultants have recently opened their doors to two international fellows: Dr. Dennis Nkanga from Nigeria and Dr. Enkhbold from Mongolia. Dr. Nkanga spent time in the clinics and the Cottage Eye Center operating theaters learning to care for patients with diabetic related eye disease.

Nigeria is a country of over 130 million people and like the U.S. has a high incidence of diabetes and diabetic related eye blindness. Unlike the U.S. in which lasers and laser treatments are readily available, Dr. Nkanga tells us that in his country there is only one single laser to treat all the diabetic patients. Without this treatment most patients go onto blindness, often within months. This is very preventable with proper treatment. The main purpose of Dr. Nkanga's visit was to learn to diagnose and treat diabetic eye diseases and to acquire a laser to take with him back to Nigeria.

Through the efforts of the California Retina Research Foundation and SEE International, these goals were obtained. The generosity of individuals supporting the CRRF makes these international collaborations possible. Dr. Nkanga has now established a diabetic clinic and is busy preventing blindness for countless individuals.