Making History: Mongolia’s First Public Retina Surgery Program at the First Central Hospital

Laurel Surgical Foundation is proud to have established the first public surgical vitreoretinal program in all of Mongolia, based at the First Central Hospital in Ulaanbaatar. Until now, patients with advanced retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration often had no access to specialized surgical care within the public health system. Many were left facing preventable blindness simply because the treatment did not have the means to access private care.

To make this program sustainable, we invested not only in specialized equipment and clinical infrastructure, but also in training the next generation of Mongolian retina surgeons. A key milestone in this journey was supporting Dr. Enkhtuul, an outstanding ophthalmologist from the First Central Hospital, in completing a two-year Retina Fellowship in Vancouver, Canada under the University of British Columbia, in collaboration with Retina Surgical Associates Inc. This intensive program provided her with world-class surgical training and the expertise to manage complex retinal cases; skills she has now brought home to Mongolia to lead the nation’s first public retina service.

This initiative means that, for the first time, patients across Mongolia can be referred to a public hospital for advanced retina surgery without having to travel abroad or face the prohibitive costs of private treatment. From farmers in the countryside to elders in remote provinces, countless Mongolians now have a real chance to save their sight and preserve their independence.

The launch of Mongolia’s first public vitreoretinal surgery program at First Central Hospital is not only transforming patient care. It is revolutionizing the country’s ophthalmology residency training program. Cataract surgery is a cornerstone skill for every graduating ophthalmologist, yet it carries potential complications, such as vitreous loss, dropped lens fragments, or retinal damage. In the past, the absence of a qualified retina surgeon in the public system meant these adverse events could lead to permanent vision loss for patients and fear or hesitation for residents learning the procedure.

With a fully trained retina specialist now on staff, residents can now perform cataract surgeries in a safe and supportive learning environment. If complications occur, the retina surgeon can intervene immediately, preserving the patient’s sight and turning a potential crisis into a valuable teaching moment.

This safety net empowers residents to gain hands-on surgical experience with confidence, accelerating their learning and ensuring they graduate as competent, independent cataract surgeons. More importantly, it elevates the entire training program to international standards, producing ophthalmologists who can provide safe, high-quality eye care across Mongolia.

By establishing the retina program, Laurel Surgical Foundation has not only brought life-saving care to patients, but has also laid the foundation for a stronger, more comprehensive ophthalmology training system — one that will continue to produce skilled surgeons for generations to come.

To view Mongolian news coverage of the inauguration click here.