Zephyrhills Eye Surgeon Restores Sight To Hundreds Around World

ZEPHYRHILLS, FL -- When he isn't working on breakthrough treatments for cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration at his clinic in Zephyrhills, eye surgeon Dr. Edward Kondrot can be found in remote villages around the world donating his time and talents to restore the eyesight of children and adults who have no access to eye care.

The founder of Healing the Eye & Wellness Center, 40122 Mason Road, since February 2018, Kondrot has restored sight free of charge to 1,200 people are the world.

Using a manual small-incision cataract surgery method, Kondrot carries his donated supplies in six check-in suitcases and travels and performs eye surgery aboard medical ships.

His most recent trip was to Finschhafen in Papua New Guinea where he set up a surgical unit about the YWAM medical ship. Some islands in Papua New Guinea are not connected to the main island and the only way to get there is by boat. The blind patients are brought onto the medical ship by dinghy for surgery.

Before that, Kondrot was on the Mercy ship docked out of Conakry, Guinea, Africa. And in February 2018, Kondrot was in Togo where he operated on more than 100 blind patients including five children who are born blind, deaf and mute.

Kondrot said giving sight back to these impoverished people with limited access to medical care has given his life new meaning.

He sold his house and said he is now dedicating his life to traveling around the world, restoring sight to the blind.

"When they can see again, they are free to do anything they want," he said. "They have hope again. They can go farm and cultivate their land. They can see their grandchildren again. They can stop being a burden to their families."

In many third-world countries, Kondrot said it's common to see a child guiding a blind adult. When the adult can see again, the child is free to go to school and look forward to a better future.

"There are many mothers who are blind while being pregnant and never see their children after birth," he said. "It is such a joy to see them look at their own children's faces for the first time after the eye patch is taken off."

Kondrot is now teaching other ophthalmologists his technique of surgery that requires a small amount of supplies and takes about 10 minutes. He hopes to convince more eye surgeons to join his mission to bring this life-changing surgery to those who previously had no hope of seeing again.

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