John Legeti Szetu

During my last 27 years, I have performed more than 17,000 eye surgeries, including more than 12,000 cataract surgeries with intraocular lens implants and numerous other major ocular surgical operations such as trabeculectomies, dacryocystorhinostomies, retinal detachment repairs, ocular trauma, anterior vitrectomies, oculoplastic surgery, strabismus surgery, and various other procedures. Since 2000, I have been using the technique of Manual Sutureless Small Incision Cataract Surgery, a technique gaining popularity and attention and presently the gold standard in cataract surgery in developing nations because of its cost-effectiveness and excellent post-operative visual outcomes.

From 1996, with my involvement in the development and establishment of eye care programmes in the Solomon Islands and then Vanuatu, I trained 25 mid-level eye health professionals. I also supervised the training of five ophthalmology registrars and many Resident Medical Officers during their one month ophthalmology rotations at the National Referral Hospital, Honiara. I was involved in the planning and establishment of the Pacific Eye Institute in Honiara (2006) which relocated to Fiji in 2007. I took the role of Director of the Pacific Eye Institute in Fiji, whilst serving as the Pacific Medical Director as from 2009.

• Medical Director, FHFNZ 2019
• Program Medical Director, The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ SI Trust Board Inc.
• Pacific Medical Advisor, The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand
• Honorary lecturer, University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine
• Honorary lecturer, Fiji School of Medicine Honorary Associate, Fiji School of Medicine
• Director, Pacific Eye Institute, Fiji
• Lecturer, Pacific Eye Institute
• International Associate Member, RANZCO
• President of PacEYES, the Pacific Islands region Eye Care Society
• Co-Chair of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness - Pacific Islands Sub-Region

• McCormick I, Tong K, Abdullah N, Abesamis-Dischoso C, Gende T, Hashim EB, Szetu J, et al. Strategies to address inequity of uncorrected refractive error in the Western Pacific: A modified Delphi process. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2024; 44: 1148–1161. https://doi.org/10.1111/opo.13348
• Szetu, J., Sikivou, B., Nilesse, M., McCool, J. (2019). Growing Leadership in Eye Health in the Pacific Islands Region. In: Withers, M., McCool, J. (eds) Global Health Leadership. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95633-6_3
• Aiyub S, Chan Weng Onn, Szetu J, Sullivan LJ, Pater J, Cooper P, Selva D. Congenital Orbital Teratoma. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology 2013; 61(12): 767-769
• Baker M, Painter G, Hewitt A, Islam A, Szetu J, Qalo M, Keeffe J. Profile of Ocular Trauma in the Solomon Islands. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology 2013 doi: 10.111/ceo.12256
• Brian G, Sikivou B, Fischer-Harder K, Szetu J, Qalo Qoqonokana M, Ramke J. Diabetic eye disease among adults in Fiji with previously undiagnosed diabetes. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology 2011
• Brian G, Maher L, Ramke J, Palagyi A. Eye care in Fiji: a population-based study of utilization and barriers. Ophthalmic Epidemiology 2011;
• Brian G, du Toit R, Ramke J, Szetu J. A population-based study of self-reported ocular trauma in Fiji.
• Brian G, Fischer-Harder K, Sikivou B, Qoqonokana MQ, Szetu J, Ramke J. Diabetic eye disease among adults in Fiji with self-reported diabetes. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2010; 38(9): 867-74.
• Brian G, Ramke J, Maher L, Page A, Szetu J. The prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 40 years and over in Fiji. New Zealand Medical Journal 2010; 123(1327): 68-75.
• Brian G, Ramke J, Szetu J, Qalo Qoqonokana M. Cataract and its surgery in Fiji. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology 2011; 39(5): 449-455.
• Brian G, Ramke J, Maher L, Page A, Fischer-Harder K, Sikivou B. Body mass index among Melanesian and Indian Fijians aged ≥ 40 years living in Fiji. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health 2011; 23(1): 34-43.
• Brian G, Ramke J, Page A, Maher L, Szetu J, Qalo Qoqonokana M. The association of diabetes and BMI among Melanesian and Indian Fijians aged 40 years and over. British Journal of Nutrition 2011; 105(10): 1539-1545.
• Brian G, Fischer-Harder K, Sikivou B, Qoqonokana MQ, Szetu J, Ramke J. Diabetic Eye Disease Among Adults in Fiji with Self-Reported Diabetes. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. June 21, 2010.
• Du Toit R, Szetu J. Beyond the Classroom: Health workforce development in the Pacific. Just Change, Access to Health Issue 14, Feb-May 2009: 19
• Williams C, Szetu J, Brian G, Ramke J, du Toit R. Evaluation of the First 5 Years of a National Eye Health Programme in Vanuatu. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology 2008; 36: 162-167
• Smith TST, Szetu JL, Bourne R. The Prevalence & Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy in Vanuatu. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2007; 91:415-419
• Brian G, Ramke J, Szetu J, Le Mesurier R, Moran D and du Toit R. Towards standards of outcome quality: a protocol for the surgical treatment of cataract in developing countries. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology 2006; 34: 383-91
• Szetu J et al. Recycled donated spectacles: experiences of eye care personnel in the Pacific. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology 2007; 35: 391-396
• Baker ML, Szetu JL, et al. Epidemiology of eye trauma in Solomon Islands. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology 2006; 34: 813-814
• Szetu JL. Sight-seeing in the Solomon Islands (Letter to the Editor). Medical Journal of Australia 2005; 183: 492-493
• Szetu JL. Vanuatu National Eye Care Program. Community Eye Health Journal 2005; 18: 95

• International Agency for Prevention of Blindness Award of Eye Health Hero in 2012
• Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology: Distinguished Service Award in 2023
• Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology: Outstanding Service in Prevention of Blindness Award in 2024

• Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) 1984
• Diploma in Ophthalmology UPNG 1992
• Master of Science (Clin Ophthalmology) University of Bristol, UK (1994)
• Cert of Eye Health modules - University College London (ICEH)