More Than 3,000 Regain Sight Through Adventist-Led Medical Mission in Trinidad
Free surgeries provided access to treatment for patients who had delayed care for years.
June 17, 2026 | Port of Spain, Trinidad | Royston Philbert and IAD News Staff
More than 3,000 people across Trinidad and Tobago regained their sight through a free cataract and pterygium surgery initiative led by the Community Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists in partnership with Hands International, providing life-changing care to patients who otherwise could not afford treatment.
The initiative, which ran from May 14–26, provided thousands of free surgeries and addressed a significant need for eye care services. Hundreds of people arrived daily at the hospital compound in Cocorite seeking treatment and the opportunity to regain their sight.
Patients and community members gather outside the Community Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists in Trinidad and Tobago during a medical mission initiative. Additional tents were set up to accommodate the hundreds seeking cataract surgeries and other medical services. [Photo: Community Hospital]
“Our target was approximately 4,000 cataract surgeries,” Agard said. “Because we knew the need was here.”
Hospital leaders noted that cataracts remain a significant health concern throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. According to Steven Carryl, M.D., chief executive officer of the Community Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists, environmental factors associated with the region may contribute to higher rates of the condition.
To help meet that need, the organization assembled specialized equipment and an international medical team that included Jacob Prabhakar, M.D., leader of the Eyes for India project. His high-volume cataract surgery technique, which enables teams to perform up to 450 procedures daily, proved critical in expanding access to treatment.
Chief ophthalmologist Jacob Prabhakar, M.D., left, and Reynold Agard, M.D., president of Hands International, address patients and volunteers before cataract surgeries during a medical mission initiative at the Community Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists in Trinidad and Tobago. [Photo: Community Hospital]
“When we replace that lens, people see again,” Agard said. “Colors become sharper. Night blindness improves. It changes quality of life.”
The initiative also provided treatment for pterygium, commonly known as “surfer’s eye,” a non-cancerous growth frequently associated with prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light, dust, and wind.
One of the mission’s greatest challenges involved pre-operative screening, as many patients arrived without the required assessments because they could not afford them.
Patients from across Trinidad and Tobago gather at the Community Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists to receive cataract surgery during a medical mission initiative that restored sight to thousands. [Photo: South Caribbean Conference Communication Department]
“We were hoping people would already be screened before arriving,” Agard said. “But many could not afford the cost of screening, so we had to adjust.”
For many patients, the free initiative provided access to eye care they had delayed for years because screening and surgery costs were beyond their means.
Mission Beyond Medicine
“We are a faith-based hospital that believes in mission,” said Steven Carryl, M.D., chief executive officer of the Community Hospital. “This opportunity allows us to give back and serve our communities through healthcare ministry.”
Pastor Leslie Moses, president of the South Caribbean Conference, said the impact of the initiative extended far beyond the surgeries themselves.
Pastor Leslie Moses, president of the South Caribbean Conference, shares words of encouragement with patients awaiting eye surgery during a medical mission initiative hosted by the Community Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists in Trinidad and Tobago. [Photo: Community Hospital]
“Restoring sight changed lives, helped individuals regain independence, and brought renewed hope to families and communities,” Moses said. The initiative delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars in free eye care services to patients across Trinidad and Tobago.
Beyond addressing a critical healthcare need, the initiative also created opportunities for the church to connect with communities through service, said Alexander Isaac, health ministries director for the Caribbean Union Conference.
“Healthcare ministry remains one of the most effective ways for the church to engage communities and reveal Christ’s love in practical ways,” Isaac said. “As we care for people physically, we also create opportunities to minister to spiritual needs.”
Last year, a Hands International medical mission team provided surgeries and healthcare services to more than 8,000 patients at the Adventist hospital during a four-day outreach effort.
Reynold Agard, M.D., left) president of Hands International, and Steven Carryl, M.D., (right) chief executive officer of the Adventist Community Hospital in Trinidad and Tobago, partnered to help lead the recent medical mission initiative. [Photo: South Caribbean Conference]
Hospital leaders noted that cataracts remain a significant health concern throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.
“When we replace that lens, people see again,” Agard said. “Colors become sharper. Night blindness improves. It changes quality of life.”
Church and hospital leaders said the initiative represented more than a medical intervention. For many patients, it restored independence, improved quality of life, and renewed hope for the future.