When Roli Ukoko traveled from Nigeria to Hawaiʻi for her daughter’s medical care, she never expected to become a patient herself. A chance observation during the visit eventually connected her with , where University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补 medical students help patients access free cataract surgery.
A staff member at Shriners Children’s Hawaiʻi noticed that Ukoko struggled to see despite her thick glasses. An eye exam revealed she had cataracts.
“I didn’t even know I had something very wrong with my eyes,” Ukoko said. “I thought it was normal.”
Ukoko had surgery on one eye in July and returned to Hawaiʻi in September for her second procedure as part of WikiVision’s Annual Cataract Surgery Day in Iwilei.
“This has been a dream come true,” she said.
Founded in 2021 by Hawaiʻi students Arabella and Alexander Tan, WikiVision provides free cataract surgery to people who are uninsured, underinsured or face barriers to care. Vivien Tham, a clinical professor in 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补’s (JABSOM) Department of Surgery, said the nonprofit has helped more than 200 people regain their vision.
This year’s Annual Cataract Surgery Day served more than 30 patients, with community donations, volunteer staff from the Eye Surgery Center of Hawaiʻi and participating ophthalmologists supporting surgeries, eye drops and pre- and post-operative care.
Learning through patient relationships
For JABSOM students Caitlin Tanji, Brooke Yasuda and Cadie Young, who serve on WikiVision’s student team, the work begins months before surgery day. They conduct outreach, participate in screenings and pre-operative visits, and stay with patients through surgery and follow-up care.
“I feel like I’m learning a lot about medicine and what it means to be a physician in Hawaiʻi,” said Tanji. “It’s about patient education and being there for them before addressing any concerns.”
For Young, a first-year medical student, working with uninsured patients underscored the importance of active listening. “Just being there for them has been really impactful,” she said.
“I’ve learned that medicine is more than just treating a disease—it’s also about understanding how it impacts quality of life,” Tanji added.