Dr. Patrick Ma Brings Life-Changing Pediatric Retina Care to Mongolia’s Children
At the National Center for Maternal and Child Health of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar, a quiet but powerful change is taking place in pediatric eye care. Dr. Patrick Ma, an internationally recognized retina specialist, has partnered with Laurel Surgical Foundation to bring advanced pediatric retina surgery to Mongolia, offering hope to children and families who have long faced limited options for treating complex eye conditions.
For decades, children born with retinal disorders or those who developed eye injuries in Mongolia often had to live without the specialized care they needed, simply because it did not exist within the country’s public hospital system. Now, with Dr. Ma’s expertise, life-changing surgeries are restoring sight, and futures, to young patients.
Training Local Doctors for Sustainable Impact
Dr. Ma’s mission goes beyond performing surgeries. He is training Mongolian ophthalmologists in the latest pediatric retina techniques, ensuring that this highly specialized care will be available for generations to come. Working closely with the hospital’s medical team, Dr. Ma provides step-by-step surgical mentoring, clinical case discussions, and hands-on guidance in the operating room.
This approach means that local doctors are not only learning to diagnose and manage complex retinal cases in children, but also gaining the confidence to perform delicate procedures themselves. Over time, this will create a self-sustaining pediatric retina program that no longer relies on foreign medical missions to meet the needs of Mongolia’s youngest patients.
A Future Where Every Child Has the Chance to See
The impact of pediatric retina care cannot be overstated. For a child, vision is the gateway to learning, development, and connection with the world. Restoring sight means restoring possibilities, allowing children to attend school, play with friends, and dream about their futures.
Thanks to the collaboration between Dr. Patrick Ma, the National Center for Maternal and Child Health of Mongolia, and Laurel Surgical Foundation, families in Mongolia no longer have to choose between impossible travel abroad or accepting permanent vision loss for their children. This partnership is not just changing lives; it is building a stronger, more capable healthcare system that will serve Mongolia for decades to come.