Meet Krim, an 84-year-old Cambodian man. Krim is a stay-at-home dad—an occupation that keeps him especially busy, given that he has ten children and 21 grandchildren. When he isn’t spending time with his large family, “Krim spends his free time going to the pagoda to listen to the monks pray and join in the ceremonies,” shares our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC).
About a year ago, Krim began to notice it was difficult for him to see clearly. He was having trouble recognizing the faces of people he knew well. He traveled four hours to visit CSC, where he learned that the source of his vision problems was a cataract, or clouded lens, in his right eye.
This condition has also been “causing Krim blurred vision, tearing, and irritation,” CSC tells us. This combination of symptoms now makes it hard for Krim to go outside by himself and to do work around the home.
$150 will provide Krim with the surgery he needs to be able to see clearly again. First he’ll receive an extracapsular cataract extraction, which will remove his clouded lens; then, that lens will be replaced by an intraocular lens implant. This artificial lens will function like a natural one, and will restore Krim’s normal vision.
After these procedures, Krim will have fully restored vision, and will be able to recognize his family members once again.
