A FRANCISCAN Missionary Sister of St Joseph, who is currently living in Crumlin, has become one of the first patients to undergo surgery in a new cataract unit unveiled at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital.
Sister Margaret Quinn was treated at the new cataract unit that was officially opened by Minister for Health, Simon Harris recently, alongside the President of the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Patrick Dowling, and CEO of the Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG), Mary Day.
The cataract unit will have the capacity to perform an additional 3,000 cataract procedures annually and is expected to reduce public waiting lists for cataract surgery within the Ireland East Hospital Group catchment area by half in 2018 and elimination by 2019.
The opening of the cataract unit was marked by a tour of the new facility and a meeting of staff and patients of the hospital.Â
The cataract unit is designed to provide a long-term solution to waiting lists for patients across the country.
 It is the first of a three stage ophthalmology strategy to address the significant capacity issues for cataract patients.
 Speaking at the launch of the new cataract unit, Minister Harris said:
“The opening of this new theatre is the next chapter in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital’s story and a true testament to the determination of staff and management at the hospital to move forward and continuously improve services.
“With this new theatre capacity, the hospital will make a major contribution to tackling waiting lists for cataract procedures for the Ireland East Hospital Group and nationally.
“It is a real demonstration that our health service can respond to the challenges that we face and deliver better outcomes for patients.
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The new cataract unit will be operational four days a week and will improve the cost-effectiveness of the surgery.
The cataract unit will also prioritise for those patients waiting the longest.
Also speaking at the launch of the cataract unit was President of the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Patrick Dowling
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“It gives me great pleasure to welcome our guests here today to mark the opening of the new cataract unit,
? he said.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Foundation who funded this new state of the art cataract unit. Without them, none of this would be possible.
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Sister Margaret Quinn was one of the first patients to undergo cataract surgery in the unit.
“Firstly, I would like to thank my doctor and all the staff,
? she said.
“Before the surgery my vision was very cloudy which made day to day tasks difficult, I was struggling to recognise objects or see pictures clearly.
“Even locking up my house at night became an issue, as I couldn’t tell which doors and windows were open without standing beside them and checking manually.
“However, since undergoing my cataract procedure I have felt fantastic. The difference is like night and day. The vision in my right eye is completely clear and it’s truly wonderful.Â
“Not only can I stop to smell the flowers, but I can also appreciate their magnificent colour and shape.
“Having the sight in my right eye fully restored was a truly wonderful gift and something that I now treasure every day.
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Sister Margert Quinn is a Franciscan Missionary Sister of St Joseph currently living in Crumlin.
Born in Cork in 1941, Sister Margert Quinn joined the congregation in 1960 and has served as a Franciscan Missionary Sister of St Joseph in Cork and Dublin.
She was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes in 2013, but recently underwent cataract surgery to repair the vision in her right eye under Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Ed Loane. The surgery was a complete success and the vision in her right eye was completely restored.
