A New Zealand optometrist had a dramatic end to a volunteer eye clinic mission to Nepal, when she was helicoptered from the remote Annapurma mountain range after a viral infection caused an acute liver injury.

For 25-year-old Lilliana Lei, from Whanganui, the two-week trek to reach the Annapurna South Base Camp at 4,130 metres above sea level – participating in eye clinics with Eyes4Everest along the way – was to be the biggest adventure of her life.

“The trip didn’t turn out quite the way I had imagined, as I fell ill on the day we were reaching base camp and was helicopter-rescued off the mountain.”

But despite the medical emergency, Ms Lei has no hesitation recommending the volunteer mission work to other eye care professionals, saying that “on any adventure, there are likely to be detours and surprises”.

The experience also reinforced, through personal experience, the difficulties faced by local Nepalese people in receiving healthcare.

“Despite being a scary time, this detour taught me many lessons and gave me a memorable experience of Nepal that was not on the itinerary.”

MEDICAL CRISIS

Ms Lei became unwell on the “most anticipated day of climbing to base camp” in September last year.

“We had arrived at a rest stop in Deurali (3,200m), surrounded by beautiful rocky mountains. When our team leader Shaun [Shaun Chang, founder of Eyes4Everest], was made aware that I was developing jaundice, he made the call for me to turn back.”

While Mr Chang coordinated the rescue, Ms Lei spent the rest of the day trekking back to the nearest helicopter pad at Upper Sinuwa (2,340m). Accompanied by a teammate and porter, she said the hike was “slow going… we were travelling in heavy rain, which made the path slippery; I was becoming increasingly unwell along the way and unable to walk at our usual pace”.

The evacuation plans were further disrupted when the flight to Kathmandu was diverted to Pokhara because of deteriorating weather. Ms Lei was in Pokhara Hospital for a week, describing her stay as a “positive experience”.

PLENTY OF HIGHLIGHTS

Despite the dramatic end to the volunteer mission, Ms Lei has many treasured memories.

“Annapurna certainly did not disappoint. We trekked through breathtaking, varied landscapes… at lower altitudes, we were among lush green hills dotted with colourful villages… we experienced different weather conditions, from hot, sunny days to dense clouds, heavy rain, thunderstorms, and puffer-jacket nights as we went higher in altitude.

“Although the scenery was incredible on its own, the teammates I shared these views with made it even more special. My travel companions included our Eyes4Everest team of 12 and Sherpa Kami Tenzing’s team of guides and porters, who also supported us as translators during the eye camps.

THE EYE CAMPS

“My favourite memory in the mountains was our first eye camp, which took place at Ulleri Primary School (2,060m). Over a full day of eye testing, we met the local people of the Annapurna region, many of whom had walked a daunting distance to see us.

“The team worked at stations for history taking, entrance testing, refraction, ocular health, and management. Patients who required glasses or ophthalmology care were seen at the final management station, where dispensing and referrals to the Himalaya Eye Hospital in Pokhara were done by the local optometrists.

“I was part of the refraction team. It was impressive to see that many of the Annapurna people were emmetropic and required only a referral to the ocular health station. My most frequent diagnosis was presbyopia, and it was rewarding to see smiles from patients who could now read easily with lenses in front of their eyes.

“One of my takeaways from the eye camp was to keep the patient’s lifestyle at the forefront of my mind. I saw a 13-year-old patient with low myopia who led an outdoor lifestyle and reported no issues seeing the board in class. Back home, the typical management for myopia would have been full-time glasses with six-monthly reviews. In this case, we agreed that the benefit of glasses wasn’t sufficient to warrant prescribing, given the lack of environmental risk factors and the patient’s disinterest in wearing them.”

Ms Lei said many patients were identified with moderate cataracts and dry eyes and were either referred to the Himalayan Eye Hospital in Pokhara or provided with ocular lubricants.

“I learnt afterwards that the Eyes4Everest team visited the hospital, and Shaun spoke with the hospital director and chief optometrist, who agreed to provide complimentary cataract surgeries to those who could not afford them.”

PART OF THE TEAM

Despite being in hospital for a week, Ms Lei said she was made to feel part of the team.

“The Eyes4Everest team checked in on me… and kept me updated about the remainder of their eye camps, which made me feel like I was still on the adventure with them. Despite this being scary as my first time ever being hospitalised, I didn’t feel like I was alone, thanks to the care I received from both the hospital team and my Eyes4Everest teammates.

“My time in Nepal, from Annapurna to the hospital in Pokhara, showed me there is something to be gained in every experience. The trip was fun and rewarding but also put me to the test both physically and mentally. During challenging times, I discovered how adaptable, resilient, and independent I can be. I hope to return to create more fond memories and a second attempt at base camp.”

TO FUTURE VOLUNTEERS

To eye health professionals unsure of overseas eye care missions, Ms Lei’s advice is to “go for it”.

“I have found that even when it doesn’t go to plan, if you make the most of the experience, it will still be an extraordinary adventure.”

To learn more about Eyes4Everest visit: eyes4everest.org.au.