The Bermuda International Eye Institute Ltd will be hosting their fifth annual ‘Patch Party’ at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute for children suffering from various eye conditions.

The event was originally designed as a reward for children who have a certain eye condition known as amblyopia, who have to wear the patch for several hours a day, with some even having to wear it full time, from the moment they wake up until bedtime.

For sufferers of amblyopia, treatment can span many years until optimum vision is achieved.

“This type of treatment is one of few medical treatments which relies 100 percent on the cooperation of the child. In most cases we use an eye patch to cover the ‘good’ eye to help stimulate the development of the visual system of the other eye.

“Our party is a way of encouraging, rewarding and congratulating these children,” said Vikki Vaughan-Jones, a specialist Orthoptist and Ophthalmic Technician at the Bermuda International Eye Institute.

“This year we have chosen to invite some of our children who face vision problems due to other causes, such as retinal disease, glaucoma, cataracts and brain tumours.

“We are proud to work with all these children who face daily eye drops, glasses and surgery as their determination, motivation and high spirits make coming to work a pleasure.

“I know these children endure their treatment rather than enjoy it but the amazing thing is that they all comply,” said Ms Vaughan-Jones.

“People often talk about degrees of job satisfaction and measure their success in materialistic form.

“Working with these children alongside Dr Leonard Teye-Botchway, Dr Catherine Prendiville and Dr Marc Greenberg at Bermuda International Eye Institute makes me realise that playing a role in giving a child their eyesight is the greatest form of job satisfaction and I wouldn’t want to do anything else,” she added.