Ophthalmologist's nap on floor after charitable surgeries sparks social media buzz

Dr. Pham Minh Truong taking a nap while sitting on the ground after providing surgical aid. Photo courtesy of Hue Eye Hospital

The photograph, which was taken and shared on social media platforms by a colleague of Truong on Friday, quickly garnered significant attention for the 62-year-old doctor’s hard work for his patients.

Dr. Truong said he, alongside 15 of his colleagues from Hue Eye Hospital and Professor Hattori Tadashi from Japan — a preeminent figure in ophthalmic surgery and the initiator of the Asia-Pacific Prevention of Blindness Association — delivered free cataract surgeries to 42 individuals at A Luoi District Health Center in Thua Thien - Hue province on the day the photo was taken. They had also conducted examinations for over 500 individuals at the same location the previous day.

"I was so exhausted after the surgeries that I found a spot in a corridor to briefly close my eyes," he said. "The photograph was unplanned, and the subsequent attention it received was entirely unexpected."

The Hue Eye Hospital team is known for its commitment to providing free eye examinations and surgeries to financially challenged patients, either on the hospital premises or by visiting isolated communities directly.

"To maximize our assistance to the patients, we often perform surgeries from morning through midday to the afternoon," Dr. Truong elaborated. "All procedures were executed without a hitch."

The doctor was honored with the "Eye Health Heroes - Heroes in the Fight Against Blindness" award in Nepal in 2017.

Additionally, he has collaborated with local governing bodies to establish five refraction centers at the district level to enhance the accessibility of eye care services.

He has furthered the cause by sharing his insights with adjacent regions, advocating for the development of additional refraction centers. This initiative is aimed at broadening the network of eye care, thereby facilitating regular eye examinations and ensuring prompt treatment for the community.