The Caribbean islands

Leonard Yuen gives a diary account of his tour of the Caribbean and takes a look at the different ophthalmic screening programmes

The Caribbean islands are often seen as a homogeneous tropical destination, but in reality each island has its own distinctive “personality.” Their reputation for warm weather, spectacular scenery, and friendliness have made them a target for holiday makers, and now they are becoming increasingly popular as an elective destination for students wanting to escape the winter months.

Common health problems on the islands are diabetes and hypertension. Diabetic eye disease comes in many forms, including diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, which accounts for 50% of blindness (an estimated 17 million people) worldwide. Many complications can be detected early and treated, so screening programmes for diabetic eye disease are essential.

With this in mind and, after a great deal of time and planning, I arranged to island hop to compare differences in health care and culture. Visiting 13 different islands gave me insight into the impact of politics and the importance of funding and education to establish effective screening and a good healthcare system. It was intriguing to see vast differences among the …