Ophthalmology in Jamaica

Amit Tandon, MD

Since joining The Ohio State University, Amit Tandon, MD has participated in surgery trips to Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras and most recently, Jamaica in 2025. Naina Gupta, MD, class of 2016 residency graduate from The Ohio State University, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences accompanied Dr. Tandon.

Dr. Gupta practices in a suburb of Dallas, Texas. Drs. Tandon and Gupta with a team of clinicians performed 45 cataract surgeries throughout the week.

Mission of Sight, led by Doug McCloy, OD is a U.S. faith-based non-profit and a recognized Registered Charity of Jamaica that is dedicated primarily to helping those with impaired vision by restoring their sight. Founded in 2005 through a simple yet powerful belief: no one should live in darkness due to preventable blindness.

John Pajka, MD

Global visionary, John Pajka, MD with his wife, Linda also frequently visit Jamaica. The Pajkas have traveled the world giving their time and expertise to help those in need of eye care in underserved countries.

“The very first time you go, you realize why you became a doctor” said Dr. Pajka. “I mean, there is no joy like giving somebody their sight back. It is a privilege to be able to do this.”

The difference between cataract surgery in developing countries and U.S. is that in America, cataract surgery is about improving a patient’s quality of life—helping them renew their driver’s license, see a golf ball better, or see the TV better. “When you do cataract surgery in the developing world, you’re giving somebody their life back,” said Dr. Pajka.