2019 World Glaucoma Association (WGA) Fellowship Program

With the assistance and generosity of her Australian colleagues, Dr Lemlem Tamrat helps introduce the first SLT laser machine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Dr Tamrat is one of five international Fellows who attended the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) Fellowship Program in Australia from April to June 2019. A 37 years old mother of two from Ethiopia, Dr Tamrat graduated from Jimma University as an Ophthalmologist in January 2012 and is currently an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Saint Paul’s Hospital Mellinium Medical College.

“There are few glaucomatologists for more than 100 million people of Ethiopia. It is my dream to build my career in this field of Ophthalmology. I look forward to providing care for my patients and sharing my knowledge with residents and medical students. In this regard I want to thank ICO and the World Glaucoma Association for giving me such a wonderful opportunity” said Dr Tamrat.

As part of the 2019 WGA Fellowship Program, Dr Tamrat attended the World Glaucoma Congress in Melbourne which is attended by ophthalmologists from all over the world. From here Dr Tamrat travelled to Adelaide to commence her fellowship at Flinders University under the watchful eye of her host Professor and glaucoma expert Prof Jamie Craig.

Dr Tamrat was able to shadow A/Prof John Landers and Prof Jamie Craig at the glaucoma clinics held three times per week, where she saw many interesting cases first hand, when previously only seen in books. Dr Tamrat also attended and presented cases at the teaching session held every Wednesday afternoon at Flinders Eye Centre.

At Royal Adelaide Hospital Dr Tamrat attended glaucoma clinics and glaucoma surgeries with Prof. Robert Casson and Dr Anna Galanopoulos.

“I had many opportunities to attend glaucoma surgeries which I found almost similar to our glaucoma surgery back home. I was also able to see different tricks and techniques,” said Dr Tamrat.

At the end of the WGA Fellowship Program, Dr Tamrat travelled to Sydney for a two day conference and wet-lab training sponsored by the Australian and New Zealand Glaucoma Society (ANZGS). It was at this meeting where Dr Tamrat first met Dr Geoff Cohn from Sydney Eye Hospital.

Following this fortunate meeting Dr Tamrat and the other four Fellows from Africa continued communicating with Dr Cohn to help get a SLT machine for patients back in Ethiopia.

SLT In Ethiopia

After completing her Fellowship in Australia, Dr Tamrat continued her hands-on training on glaucoma at Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO), Nepal for five more months after which she became a certified glaucomatologist.

On her return to Ethiopia Dr Tamrat took receipt of the first Ellex Tango SLT machine, which arrived in Addis Ababa in the first week of January 2020. Dr Cohn travelled from Australia to Ethiopia to help assemble the machine at Saint Paul’s Hospital Mellinium Medical College.

“I personally appreciate the time and patience that I saw from him to get this machine for us. Having SLT treatment available for our patients is a big step forward in managing glaucoma,”

“Glaucoma is becoming a very big challenge in Africa. It occurs relatively earlier, progresses more rapidly and blinds very young. Open angle glaucoma, especially pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, is the most common glaucoma we see here in Ethiopia. There are lots of problems related to getting glaucoma drops as a treatment, as they are poorly available and unaffordable. Giving laser treatment with SLT will let our patients have good control of IOP with fewer medications and at a cheaper price” she added.

“I have already started doing SLT treatment for my patients with the laser machine donated by Dr Geoff and his colleagues. I myself and all my patients are very happy and excited to get this service. This SLT will help us to save the sight of very large numbers of glaucoma sufferers in our country in the years to come” Dr Tamrat concluded.