Can a doctor from a small hamlet remove a fish hook from the eyelid or should we travel 2 hours to a hospital?

Any qualified doctor or even a nurse should be able to perform a relatively easy operation like removing a fish hook from an eyelid.

If they can’t then they should not be doctors or nurses.

Even 25 years ago any doctor or nurse should be able to remove it.

Even 25 years ago, a “hamlet” doctor should have been both trained and licensed, and he should at least be capable of judging whether the hospital trip is necessary.

Local doctor.

If you prudently brought a fishing first aid kit you can do it yourself and not worry about it

Hospital. You don’t know if the eyeball has been punctured, and an ER will have a proper slit lamp.

Since this happened 25 years ago, I would imagine the question is moot now.

@RedDeerGuy1 IMHO With the possibility of even a corneal scratch,
make the trip.

I’d want to go to a local doctor to get the dang hook out of my eyelid as soon as possible. The local doctor could also advise about what other treatment might be advisable.