49-year-old Lim lives in Cambodia with her four children and two grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys watching Korean dramas on TV.
“Two years ago Lim developed a pterygium in her right eye,” reports our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). A pterygium is a growth of pink tissue on the white of the eye. “This causes her blurred vision, burning, and redness,” CSC explains.
This condition usually develops as a result of UV sun damage to the eye, and commonly occurs among laborers in equatorial regions who do not have adequate eye protection. Although it is non-cancerous, the pterygium will continue to grow over time and can interfere with Lim’s vision if left untreated. “I don’t feel good doing work or going outside,” Lim tells us.
Lim traveled three hours with her sister to reach CSC for treatment. For $150, doctors will be able to remove the growth on Lim’s eye and use another piece of her healthy eye tissue to patch the affected area. This is a very short procedure, and after using steroid drops for 1-2 weeks her eye will be fully healed.
After her procedure, Lim will be relieved of the burning, irritation, and redness from the eye growth. She is looking forward to returning to take care of her family. “I hope my eye will be good looking with no more cyst,” she says. “I want to be able to make desserts for selling in front of my home to earn money to support my family.”