“Chhai Kry began losing vision six years ago,” says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). The 69-year-old Cambodian grandfather of three was recently diagnosed with having a cataract in each eye in addition to glaucoma.
CSC explains that due to his condition, “Chhai Kry is partially blind and experiences pain, burning, and tearing. It is hard for him to see anything clearly, do work, go outside, and recognize people’s faces.”
In Cambodia, cataracts are the most common cause of partial blindness. The condition occurs as proteins develop over the eye lens and form a cloudy layer. Without treatment, the cloudiness increases over time–resulting in slowly deteriorating vision.
$300 covers the cost of Chhai Kry’s treatment. For each of his cataracts, doctors will make a small incision to surgically remove the clouded lens and replace it with a new, artificial implant.
To treat his glaucoma, Chhai Kry will receive a trabeculectomy–a common procedure used to decrease pressure built up around the inner eye.
In his free time, Chhai Kry enjoys watching Chinese dramas on TV and planting crops around his home. He shares: “I hope my eye can see everything more clearly so I can help my family work on the farm, do housework, clean the home, feed the cow and pig, and go anywhere outside.”
His daughter adds, “I hope my father can see everything clearly again so I don’t have to worry about his eyes going blind anymore.”
