76-year-old Nam is married with seven daughters and 18 grandchildren. “She spends her free time doing house work, visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray, and meditating,” shares our medical partner in Cambodia, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “Nam developed a cataract in each eye three years ago. This causes her blurred vision, irritation, tearing, and burning,” explains CSC. Cataracts occur as proteins develop in the lens of the eye, causing cloudiness. Without treatment, the cloudiness increases over time and results in slowly deteriorating vision. This can ultimately result in total blindness, and is especially common in regions near the equator due to high ultraviolet light exposure. “I cannot see clearly and go outside by myself or do any work,” Nam says. For $225, we can fund surgery to cure Nam’s cataracts. In each eye, doctors will make a small incision to surgically remove the clouded lens and replace it with a new, artificial lens. Surgery will fully restore Nam's vision.