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Oun is a 75-year-old retired farmer and grandmother from Cambodia who needs $253 to fund cataract surgery in her eye so that she can be more independent.

Oun
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  • $10 raised, $243 to go
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January 2, 2023

Oun is a 75-year-old retired rice farmer. She lives in Pursat province, revered as one of the holiest sites of Cambodian Buddhism. Her husband died of lung disease many years ago, so she lives with her son, his wife and her grandchildren, who are all rice farmers. When not helping out in the house, she likes visiting the local pagoda to listen to the monks pray.

Four years ago, Oun developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her tearing, blurry vision, and photophobia. Oun has to spend her days inside the house due to light sensitivity from her cataract, and she cannot do what she normally likes to do. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own.

When Oun learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for six and a half hours seeking treatment. On January 3rd, doctors will perform phacoemulsification and place an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure.

Oun said: “I hope my eye can be fixed, so I can continue to spend time with my family and recognize faces.”

Oun is a 75-year-old retired rice farmer. She lives in Pursat province, revered as one of the holiest sites of Cambodian Buddhism. Her husba...

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Oun's Timeline

  • January 2, 2023
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Oun was submitted by Ellen Interlandi, Stakeholder Relations at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • January 3, 2023
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Oun was scheduled to receive treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre in Cambodia. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • January 9, 2023
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Oun's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING FUNDING

    Oun is currently raising funds for her treatment.

  • TBD
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Oun's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre.

Funded by 1 donor

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Funded by 1 donor

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Treatment
Cataract - One Eye
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $253 for Oun's treatment
Hospital Fees
$36
Medical Staff
$174
Medication
$0
Supplies
$43
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients with cataracts experience decreased vision, discomfort, and irritation. Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, causing functional blindness. These changes in the lens commonly occur with increasing age and therefore affect elderly people. Cataracts can also be congenital or traumatic.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

The decreased vision from cataracts can cause functional blindness. This makes it difficult for the patient to conduct daily activities. Patients often need a family member to help guide and care for them. If the patient is elderly, this often affects a young child in the family. When a grandmother needs help getting around, a young child is often assigned to help with her daily tasks. That child cannot go to school.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

In many countries in the developing world, surgical services are inadequate. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally. Even where surgical services are available, barriers to surgery remain, including cost, shortage of human resources, poor infrastructure, and limited awareness about access to available services.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed worldwide. Surgeons remove the cloudy lens and place a clear lens implant in its place.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

A patient's vision can improve to 20/20 within one day after the surgery.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Cataract surgery is highly effective and carries a low risk.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Cataract surgery is available in most areas of Cambodia. However, free surgery is not as widely available.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Some debilitating effects of cataracts can be improved with glasses. When the cataract becomes mature, however, the only definitive treatment is surgical.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.