Barbadian ophthalmologist, Dr Kim Jebodhsingh, was among several prominent guest speakers featured at the Ophthalmological Society of Jamaica’s 15th annual conference.
The conference, which was held at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, carried the theme Exploring the Frontiers in Glaucoma and Oculoplastics.
As a consultant ophthalmologist, oculoplastic surgeon, and director of The Eye Clinic Inc. based in Barbados, Dr Jebodhsingh spoke on the topic of eyelid lesions and reconstruction.
Her lecture focused particularly on the field of oculoplastics and reconstruction, in which she specialises. She highlighted the significance of this field, particularly in the Caribbean’s tropical climate, where high UV exposure has contributed to a high incidence of skin cancers.
Dr Jebodhsingh told the audience that she began her medical training in ophthalmology before specialising in oculoplastic surgery, and studied at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica; Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, USA; and the University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, and McMaster University in Canada.
Oculoplastics, she explained, relieves symptoms such as vision loss and foreign body sensation, by removing cancerous growths, followed by reconstructing the original anatomy, often in under a few hours. Dr Jebodhsingh said there was also a creative side to this specialty, for which she had a passion since she had earned the top prize in Art and Craft in the Caribbean Examination Council examinations in 1990.
Drawing a parallel between surgery and athletic performance, she spoke about how the preparation and execution of surgery mirror techniques currently being taught by sports psychologists. Dr Jebodhsingh is a former president of the Barbados Squash Association.
She also discussed the treatment of both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) skin lesions, particularly among patients from Barbados and across the wider Caribbean who are often referred to her.. Her presentation included impressive examples of successful post-reconstruction results.
(AS)
