“81-year-old Im developed a cataract in each eye three months ago,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) tells us. They add that Im, who lives in Cambodia, experiences “blurred vision, tearing, and burning. It is hard for her to see everything clearly, go outside, or do her work.”
Cataracts occur when proteins build-up over the eye lens, gradually forming a cloudy layer over the natural eye lens. Without intervention, this layer slowly solidifies--leading to impaired vision and eventually blindness.
After a neighbor informed them of CSC’s medical services, Im and her daughter traveled over four hours to reach CSC’s clinic.
$225 will cover the cost of Im’s cataract surgery. In each eye, surgeons will remove the cloudy eye lens and replace it with a clear, artificial substitute.
75% of Cambodia’s vision-related issues are caused by cataracts, making this operation the most widely practiced eye surgery in the country. It is also highly effective--within a day of her procedure, Im will regain her sight.
Im, who is married with three daughters and 20 grandchildren, stays at home in Cambodia to help take care of her house and family. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to the monks pray and visiting the pagoda.
“I hope my [eyes] can see everything clearer than now,” Im shares. “I want to help my daughter cook food, clean the house, and take care of my grandchildren. I [want] to easily go anywhere by myself, too.”