From St. Joseph’s Health Care London and across Canada, ophthalmologists are helping Ukrainian medical teams treat war-related eye trauma.
When a young ophthalmology resident approached Dr. Cindy Hutnik with an idea, neither could have predicted the profound personal and global impact it would have.
Within one year, this humanitarian duo, along with ophthalmologists from across Canada – all sharing a Ukrainian background – have raised nearly a million dollars and coordinated shipments of desperately needed medicine and equipment to the frontlines of war-torn Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion.
For both Dr. Hutnik, a renowned ophthalmologist at the Ivey Eye Institute of St. Joseph’s Health Care London, and Dr. Michael Kryshtalskyj, a specialist-to-be, the experience has been a swift and gratifying lesson in the colossal difference a small, passionate group of individuals can make. The two have been collaborating on research since Dr. Kryshtalskyj was a fourth year medical student and Dr. Hutnik was his advisor. One day after the Ukraine war broke out, Dr. Kryshtalskyj called his mentor.
“When you’re in training, it can sometimes feel hard to make a difference,” says Dr. Kryshtalskyj, now a third year ophthalmology resident in Calgary. “We knew this initiative would be an enormous effort, but we felt behooved to do something given this calamitous situation. And what has impressed me is the power ordinary doctors, even doctors in training, have to make an impact and effect change.”
This compassionate mission – called Eyes on Ukraine – has quickly grown into a movement sparking broad international support and accolades far and wide. The goals are lofty – to support the treatment of eye injuries in Ukraine through fundraising, shipping of medical supplies, knowledge sharing and advocacy.
Eye trauma is estimated to account for 20 per cent of all injuries in modern warfare. Due to widespread bombing and shelling in Ukraine, these devastating injuries are being seen in civilians as well as those engaged in battle.
Since the first weeks of the invasion, Eyes on Ukraine has been raising money and sending medicine and surgical equipment to Ukraine ophthalmologists, with numerous reports from clinics and war units close to the front that the shipments are making a widespread difference. Getting supplies into the country, however, has required ingenuity and the forging of a trusted network of individuals, including European ophthalmologists and Polish and Ukrainian mountain guards, to ensure safe passage of the goods through Poland to Western Ukraine. There, they are distributed by the Ukrainian Vitreoretinal Society to where they are needed most. The initiative is believed to be the most active and organized humanitarian aid initiatives supporting eye trauma in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
With the initiative rapidly gaining traction, Dr. Hutnik reached out to the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) and Eyes on Ukraine is now the flagship initiative of the COS Foundation.
Beyond fundraising and gathering supplies, Eyes on Ukraine connected with Canadian ophthalmic surgical subspecialists to build a panel of experts who can answer questions from Ukrainian ophthalmologists on complex cases as they arise.
“Through conversations with Ukrainian ophthalmologists, the Canadian physicians have gained an understanding of how severe these injuries are,” says Dr. Hutnik.
An ongoing series of open forums, hosted by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and supported by Eyes on Ukraine, is another new opportunity for Ukrainian ophthalmologists and experts in the west to share experiences in managing complex trauma cases. It is also consolidating a new body of knowledge in ocular trauma, says Dr. Kryshtalskyj.
Eyes on Ukraine also led the translation of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Joint Trauma System Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of wartime ophthalmic trauma into Ukrainian for widespread distribution to frontline doctors and medics.
Most recently, Eyes on Ukraine, was awarded the Secretariat Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Global Alliances Secretariat, which honours special contributions to ophthalmology.
“It’s been humbling to work with inspirational people from around the world – leading ophthalmologists, government officials and others,” says Dr. Kryshtalskyj. “It has solidified my dream of specializing in oculofacial plastic surgery.”
For Dr. Hutnik, Eyes on Ukraine has been “one of the most rewarding and gratifying experiences” of her illustrious career.
“It’s an example of what a small group of passionate people can do. It takes you beyond yourself. We’ve truly been able to use our skills, knowledge and resources to help people and give them hope. And it continues to grow.”
