By Dr. Mary Ellaine S. Diaz

During my first few months back in Ilocos after completing my training, it was heartbreaking to witness patients lose their sight because of persistent misconceptions about eye care, even among community healthcare workers. We know this all too well – many of these cases could’ve been prevented or better managed with the right knowledge, early recognition and timely referral.

I have always believed that protecting sight goes beyond the walls of the clinic or the operating room. As ophthalmologists, we can make a greater impact by reaching communities and empowering frontline healthcare workers in providing primary eye care.

Together with Dr. Roseny Mae Singson, project “BANTAY MATA”, a training program on Primary Eye Care for Community Healthcare Workers, was conceptualized. The activity marked a historic milestone as the first of its kind to be conducted in Candon City, Ilocos Sur on August 18, 2026. The one-day training gathered over 65 participants from 42 barangays, including barangay health workers, midwives, nurses and doctors from the Candon City Health Office. 

Through lectures and hands-on exercises, participants learned basic eye anatomy, common causes of blurring of vision in the community, visual acuity assessment, and red eye evaluation. Basic algorithms for primary eye care of common eye complaints were also provided and discussed. The participants’ baseline knowledge was also measured before and after the training program. Their average test scores increased from 4.2 to 4.7, while their evaluations of the program were overwhelmingly positive.

To support the practical application of these skills, we distributed training kits that included a training booklet containing printed copies of the primary eye care algorithms both in English and Ilocano dialect, as well as the contents of the lectures for their own review. Snellen and Jaeger charts, as well as eye occluders were distributed to representatives from each barangay and the City Health Office.

This initiative would not have been possible without the help of my colleagues, Dr. Thonnie Rose See-Pacquing, Dr. Leo Francis Pacquing, and Dr. Maria Katrina Malgapu-Uy; the support of the Candon City Health Office under the leadership of Dr. Joy Villanueva and the PAO-Northwestern Luzon Chapter under the helm of Dr. Medard Sahagun; and the generous sponsorship of the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology.

For me, Bantay Mata is more than a training program. It is a first step towards empowering community healthcare workers to become active partners in preventing avoidable vision loss and bringing eye care closer to the people who need it. I hope to see this initiative grow and inspire similar efforts in other communities. After all, meaningful change does not always begin on a large scale. Sometimes, it starts with one healthcare worker, one community, and one lecture at a time.

Doctors from the PAO-NWL Chapter guide the participants through the four lecture modules: Basic Eye Anatomy & Common Eye Diseases, Vision Screening, Red Eye Assessment, Basic Algorithms for Primary Eye Care.,

Participants take turns to demonstrate how to properly measure the distance and near visual acuity.

Preview of the Primary Eye Care Algorithm in English & Ilocano translation within the Training Booklet

EDITORS’ NOTE:
For those interested in contacting the author, learning more about the project, or exploring how this initiative can be adapted to your local setting or organization, Dr. Diaz may be reached at: ellainediaz.md@gmail.com 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Mary Ellaine S. Diaz is a Cornea & External Disease specialist based in the Ilocos region. She finished her residency training at the DOH Eye Center, East Avenue Medical Center, and subsequent fellowship at DOVS UP-PGH. She is a graduate of the 2024 PAO-LDP program.