Dr. Johnson has completed dozens of sight-saving missions with the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. In 2017 and 2019, Dr. Johnson joined our team of volunteers in Cameroon and Ghana working side-by-side with local teams.
More recently, during his time in the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Cameroon, Dr. Johnson screened over 50 people, treating 10 patients with complex conditions. We were able to find some time to sit down with him to discover more about his experience.
Speaking about his sub-specialty in oculoplastic surgery and its importance, Dr. Johnson told us: “It's a very important part of ophthalmology. We deal mainly with problems with the orbit, the eyelids, and the tear ducts. These are all very much intimately related to sight. The eyelids protect the eye, and without good eyelid function, the cornea would not be healthy, patients would not see well. So eyelid abnormalities can definitely impair vision.
“Droopy eyelids, or what's called ptosis is where there's a droopiness of the eyelid. It can actually block part of the vision. Orbital problems are very common in my practice too. Thyroid eye disease creates bulging of the eye, and can create compression of the optic nerve and loss of vision, as well as corneal problems. So dealing with these issues is very important for the preservation of vision.”