SDA Medical Mission to Kosrae Meets Urgent Need for Eye Care, Surgeries & Glasses. The Ayuda Foundation Assists with Airfare.

An eye care and vision team from Guam-based Seventh Day Adventist Clinic visited Kosrae to provide care for the island in March 2025.  The Ayuda Foundation funded the medical mission’s roundtrip airfare. The following report on the mission is from Lauren Fenwick of SDA’s Guam-Micronesia Mission.

Kosrae March 2025 Eye Clinic Report

During our recent eye clinic visit to the island of Kosrae, we had the opportunity to assess and respond to the eye care needs of the local population. This report outlines the island’s current condition in terms of healthcare accessibility, the critical need for vision services, and the impact of our efforts on the ground.

(To The Ayuda Foundation): Thank you so much for making this trip possible. It was an incredible opportunity to assess and respond to the eye care needs of Kosrae’s local people.

Island Conditions

Kosrae, one of the islands in the Federated States of Micronesia, is known for its stunning natural beauty and close-knit community. Despite these strengths, the island faces healthcare challenges in the area of vision care. Without a permanent eye doctor on the island, many residents go even years without treatment, allowing conditions to worsen over time. 

While resources are limited, we were warmly welcomed and well supported by the Kosrae Government Hospital, which generously provided us with clinic space, translators, and local logistics coordination. Their partnership was instrumental in allowing us to operate efficiently and serve as many patients as possible.

Need for Eye Care, Surgeries & Glasses

Throughout our visit, it became increasingly clear that there is a significant unmet need for consistent and specialized eye care. Many residents reported blurred vision, headaches, or cataracts, and due to the limited access to optometry or ophthalmology services, many had gone years without receiving an eye exam or updated distance/reading glasses.

Throughout the clinic, we saw over 150 patients. We were able to schedule 14 pterygium surgeries and 34 cataract surgeries for a visiting surgeon’s trip in May. Additionally, we provided YAG laser treatment for 3 patients and diagnosed 30 cases of diabetic retinopathy. A total of 110 patients received glasses — mostly readers and some distance prescriptions.

One memorable case was a 16-year-old student, who had been relying on her phone to zoom in on photos of the classroom board in order to study. Our team was able to provide her with glasses that dramatically improved her vision. She walked out of the clinic with a huge smile — a moment that reminded us why this work matters.

Yag Laser Treatment	3
Scheduled Pterygium Surgery for May Visit	14
Diabetic Retinopathy	30
Scheduled Cataract Surgery for May Visit	34
Glasses (mostly readers/some distance)	110
Total Patient Examination	150

We are incredibly grateful to the Ayuda Foundation for making this clinic possible. Your support has helped bring much-needed vision care to an under-served population. Thank you for investing in this mission and in the lives of so many deserving individuals.