The Duchess of Edinburgh made a brief visit to Antigua and Barbuda before returning to the UK.
Sophie travelled to the Caribbean nation as Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), devoted to improving access to eye care avoidable sight loss.
Her first engagement took her to a new primary eye care unit at the Magistrates Court in St John’s, where she was welcomed by the Cure Blindness Project ahead of the Global Summit for Eye Health.
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During the visit, the Duchess met patients whose sight had recently been restored, hearing first-hand how treatment had transformed their lives.
She also spoke with nurses, ophthalmologists and other healthcare professionals working to make eye care more accessible across Antigua and Barbuda.
The visit held particular significance for Sophie, who has spent more than 20 years supporting international efforts to prevent avoidable blindness.
Later, she attended the Global Summit for Eye Health at the John E St Luce Conference Centre, where she delivered a keynote address calling for greater action to tackle preventable blindness.
In her speech, Sophie thanked the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for hosting the gathering, alongside its co-hosting nations Bangladesh, Guyana, Nigeria and Ireland.
She said: “The treatment of avoidable blindness is as imperative as any other health challenge, not only because it prevents individuals from losing their window onto the world, curtailing life chances and choices, but if treated with low-cost and effective interventions, there huge returns to be had.
“I’ve been involved in eye health for more than 20 years in my role as Global Ambassador for Vision 2020 and the IAPB.
I also had the honour to serve as Vice Patron of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, set up to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 2012, and with its principal mission of tackling avoidable blindness across the Commonwealth.
“Over the decades, I have visited eye care programmes in many countries, including Africa, Asia, South America, and beyond.
And in fact, this morning I was at one of the very clinics that Prime Minister Browne was actually just describing, two already set up and two in train, and met with some of the healthcare professionals, the nurses who in fact went to India for their training and have recently returned, and they’re already up and running and making an impact.
“I’ve seen the overwhelming joy when the bandages are removed after cataract surgery and sight loss, even after decades, is restored.
“I’ve witnessed trachoma operations which not only save sight but deliver those afflicted from a lifetime of agonising pain and discomfort.”
According to the Court Circular, her visit concluded after the summit, with the Duchess flying back to the UK.
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