Across Asia and the Pacific, eye care professionals and organisations are working with local clinicians, health workers, and communities to expand access to sight-saving and life-changing care. While glasses, examinations, and surgery can make an immediate difference, these outreach programs are also investing in local knowledge, skills, and services that continue after visiting teams return home.

Strengthening Mongolia’s Next Generation of Glaucoma Leaders

WRITER Dr Colin Clement

For Dr Colin Clement, one of the most rewarding aspects of ophthalmology is the opportunity to share knowledge and learn from colleagues around the world. He recently had the privilege of travelling to Ulaanbaatar with Sight For All to contribute to its glaucoma education program in Mongolia, and the experience reinforced the importance of investing in local clinicians to create lasting improvements in patient care.

Sydney ophthalmologist Dr Colin Clement begins the series in Mongolia, where Sight For All is helping develop the next generation of glaucoma specialists through fellowship-level education and mentorship. In Vanuatu, the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation combines clinical care with training for community-based volunteers and local health workers. Optical Dispensers Australia takes us inside a busy week of mobile clinics in Fiji, while Specsavers and The Fred Hollows Foundation demonstrate how teaching placements and long-term partnerships can strengthen the eye care workforce across Australia and the Pacific. These different models of outreach are united by collaboration, professional generosity, and a commitment to creating lasting improvements in eye care.

When people think of international eye health outreach, they often picture visiting surgeons performing procedures before returning home. While these activities can be valuable, the greatest long-term impact comes from building local expertise. Sight For All’s Mongolia program is founded on this principle, focusing on fellowship-level education and mentorship delivered within the trainee’s own clinical environment.

To date, seven Mongolian ophthalmologists have participated in, or are currently undertaking, the glaucoma fellowship program. Rather than requiring clinicians to leave their practices and families for extended overseas training, the program allows them to develop advanced knowledge and surgical skills within Mongolia, where those skills can be immediately applied to patient care.

A highlight of my recent visit was an educational program delivered in partnership with the Young Ophthalmologists of

Mongolia (YOMO). More than 25 young ophthalmologists attended a two-hour interactive session titled ‘Glaucoma beyond the basics’, which explored challenging aspects of glaucoma diagnosis and management, including masquerade syndromes, glaucoma associated with keratoprosthesis, and contemporary surgical techniques such as deep sclerectomy.

The enthusiasm and engagement of participants were remarkable. Questions continued well beyond the scheduled program, reflecting a strong desire among Mongolia’s emerging ophthalmologists to expand their subspecialty knowledge and improve outcomes for patients with complex glaucoma.

The success of the YOMO program was made possible through the outstanding efforts of Dr Ijilmurun Enkh-Amgalan, Chair of the YOMO Executive Committee, who coordinated the educational activities and brought together a highly motivated group of young ophthalmologists. YOMO has become an important force in ophthalmic education within Mongolia, providing opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and international collaboration. Spending time with its members gave me great confidence in the future of ophthalmology in the country.

HANDS-ON LEARNING

While lectures are an important component of education, some of the most valuable learning occurred in clinics and operating theatres. Throughout the visit, we reviewed challenging cases, discussed management strategies, and explored the decision-making processes involved in glaucoma care.

The operating theatre sessions were particularly rewarding. They provided opportunities to discuss surgical planning, refine techniques, and share approaches to managing difficult glaucoma cases. Importantly, these sessions focused on mentorship and skills transfer, rather than visiting surgeons performing operations independently. The goal was to strengthen local expertise and confidence so that patients continue to benefit long after the educational visit has concluded.

One of the most exciting components of the program involved minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). Through the generous support of Glaukos, local surgeons were provided with donated iStent inject devices, while Device Technologies further strengthened the program through the donation of essential surgical instruments and consumables, including speculums, cannulas, Drysdale spatulas, and Sub-Tenon’s needles.

These contributions provided much more than equipment. They created opportunities for practical training in contemporary glaucoma surgery and helped ensure that educational activities could be translated into meaningful clinical experience. Sustainable improvements in eye care require both knowledge and the tools needed to apply that knowledge effectively. The generosity of Glaukos and Device Technologies has made a tangible contribution to the development of glaucoma care in Mongolia, and I am sincerely grateful for their support.

The broader significance of the program was reinforced through a meeting with Australia’s Ambassador to Mongolia, His Excellency Leo Zeng. The Ambassador expressed strong support for initiatives that strengthen educational and healthcare links between Australia and Mongolia. His encouragement highlighted the value of professional collaboration – not only for improving patient care but also for fostering enduring relationships between our two countries.

INFLUENCING THE FUTURE

One of the most impressive aspects of the visit was the quality, enthusiasm, and commitment of the young Mongolian ophthalmologists involved. Whether participating in lectures, discussing clinical cases, or observing and performing surgery, they consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to improving patient outcomes and advancing their profession.

Ultimately, the success of programs such as these should not be measured by the number of lectures delivered or procedures performed during a single visit. Their true value lies in the development of clinicians who will continue to teach, mentor, and care for patients long into the future. Every ophthalmologist who gains advanced glaucoma expertise has the potential to influence countless patients and colleagues throughout their career.

Sight For All’s work in Mongolia demonstrates the power of sustainable capacity building. By supporting local ophthalmologists, partnering with organisations such as YOMO, and leveraging the generosity of industry partners and diplomatic stakeholders, the program is helping build a stronger future for glaucoma care across the country.

As I reflected on the visit, it became clear that the most valuable outcome was not a single operation, lecture, or clinical consultation. It was the strengthening of a network of talented and motivated clinicians who will continue sharing knowledge, training colleagues, and improving patient care for years to come. That is the lasting legacy of education, and the reason programs such as these matter.

Dr Colin Clement BSc (Hon) MBBS PhD FRANZCO is a Sydney-based ophthalmologist with expertise in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma, cataract, and general ophthalmology. He consults and operates in private practice in Sydney, and is an Honorary Medical Officer in the glaucoma unit at Sydney Eye Hospital.

Alongside his clinical and research work, Dr Clement is committed to medical education. As a clinical senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, he delivers ophthalmology lectures and tutorials to medical and master’s students, nurses, optometrists, and other healthcare professionals.