Sombo is a 49-year-old woman living in Cambodia with her husband, one son and one daughter. Her family farms rice plants to earn a living. She enjoys listening to radio news and watching Thai dramas on TV.
Three years ago, Sombo developed blurred vision and irritation in both eyes. She has also been uncomfortable with the appearance of her eyes. She and her sister traveled to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), for further evaluation, and she was found with a pterygium in each eye.
Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. The growth can cause discomfort and obstruct vision. There is a higher prevalence for pterygiums along the equator, where there is more sun exposure.
Sombo needs a surgical procedure to scrape and remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface, and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The CSC tells us that for $148, Sombo can have the procedure she needs. The total cost covers the procedure, supplies, and two days of inpatient care. After her pterygium excision surgery, Sombo’s discomfort will be relieved and her vision will improve.