Ms Jo Lynch explains how a chance conversation led to an ongoing partnership with the National Eye Centre in Dili, Timor Leste, and support for the country’s first, and so far only, orthoptist.
Timor Leste, one of Australia’s closest neighbours, is also one of the poorest nations in the region. After gaining independence in 2002, it had to rebuild its health system from scratch. With a population of 1.35 million, access to quality eyecare remains limited, and the need for skilled professionals is critical.
At the 2019 RANZCO Conference, I met three Timorese ophthalmology registrars while waiting in line for lunch. Their accounts of working in eye health in East Timor with limited resources struck a chord. We exchanged contact details, and I pondered the stark contrast between their work environment and my own.
Years later, an orthoptic colleague from Eye Surgery Associates in Melbourne, Ms Cec Whitford, informed me they had a fully functional but no longer needed JedMed A-Scanner.
I reached out to the Timorese ophthalmology registrars, who confirmed they could use it but lacked funds for purchase or shipping. This led to a broader conversation about their challenges. They had two non-functional iCares, only one broken set of loupes for five surgeons, and one basic A-Scanner.
Determined to help, I worked with Cec to prepare the A-Scanner. She sourced a protective carry case to make it portable for outreach clinics, translated the instructions into Portuguese, and created a video guide on fixing an iCare. We also gathered additional supplies, including a USB blower, rechargeable headlamps, and thermal paper rolls.
More generous members of the eyecare community soon joined the effort. Designs For Vision provided a new iCare and 600 probes at a discounted price. Mr Jason Hogan from Hogies Australia donated two high-quality sets of loupes.
In August 2023, I travelled to Dili, Timor Leste, to personally deliver the equipment. At the National Eye Centre (NEC) I met the staff, demonstrated the JedMed A-Scanner, and repaired their broken iCares.
Most importantly, I met Ms Lidia Amaral, Timor Leste’s first and only orthoptist.
She plays a critical role in assessing paediatric patients in a small room decorated with a Winnie-the-Pooh mural. Spending time with her, I saw first-hand how the lack of clinical equipment limited the care she could provide.
Her passion for learning and improving her skills to better serve her patients was inspiring.
I felt sure I could help bridge the gap between Lidia’s challenges and the resources readily available to Australian orthoptists. Back in Melbourne, I worked on assembling a full set of orthoptic tests with support from Designs for Vision, Adelaide Orthoptics, and Kids Eye Gear.
I arranged for Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma, then head of the NEC, to collect these at RANZCO in Perth.
Beyond providing equipment, I wanted to support Lidia’s desire for more clinical experience. I set about organising a clinical observership for her at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne. With help from Dr Anu Matthew, Dr Sandra Staffieri, and Ms Cathy Lewis, we secured a two-week placement and arranged a training visa. In November 2024, I returned to Dili and accompanied Lidia to Melbourne.
During her placement, Lidia gained hands-on experience in various clinics, including congenital cataract, retinoblastoma, congenital glaucoma, and ocular motility.
This training, coupled with new testing equipment, significantly enhanced her skills and confidence. Lidia is now connected with a support network of RCH orthoptists via WhatsApp whenever she needs clinical advice.
Looking across the eye health sector in Timor Leste, it is heartening to see the incredible efforts to improve access to quality eyecare and train more practitioners. The NEC is supported by the Fred Hollows Foundation, the Australian Government, and the Timor Leste Ministry of Health.
Other initiatives, like the East Timor Eye Project (ETEP), provide clinical training and equipment. I was inspired by these efforts and the impact individuals can have.
Lidia’s journey represents a crucial step toward strengthening orthoptic care in Timor Leste. Her training and access to equipment will directly improve eyecare services for children and adults alike.
If anyone in the eye care community would like to support ongoing orthoptic training for Lidia or the NEC’s optometrist, Mr Gil Costa, the NEC would be incredibly grateful. Please reach out to execofficer@orthoptics.org.au for more information.
About the Author: Jo Lynch is an orthoptist at Eye Surgery Associates in Melbourne and has also worked at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Her main interest is in ocular electrophysiology, working with Associate Professor Heather Mack, also glaucoma and paediatrics. She is the current chair of the Victorian Branch of Orthoptics Australia.
More reading
Orthoptics Australia seeks more quality data on workforce challenges
Orthoptics Awareness Week 2024: Unleashing the potential of orthoptists
Vision Australia and Lions Outback Vision team up in Broome
