This is 16-year-old Sok Na from Cambodia. “She enjoys watching Thai dramas on TV and listening to classical music,” shares our medical partner Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC).
“Sok Na was born with exotropia, a form of strabismus,” CSC tells us. This condition is an eye misalignment that causes her eyes to turn outward–essentially the opposite of being cross-eyed. 4% of children worldwide are affected by this condition, which can lead to impaired vision, headaches, and eye strain.
Exotropia also interferes with normal eye contact, and has significant effects on social communication and self-esteem especially in adolescence. “I am shy around my friends and other people when I go outside,” shares Sok Na.
After hearing that her friend had a strabismus correction surgery at CSC, Sok Na traveled two hours with her sister to reach CSC for similar treatment. For $290, doctors will identify and move the muscles on her eye in order to straighten them. This procedure only takes 1-2 hours, and after about a week of recovery Sok Na’s eyes will be properly realigned.
As one of six siblings, Sok Na is excited for treatment so that she can find a job and help support her family. “I hope my eye is good looking straight and beautiful like other ladies,” Sok Na tells us. “Then I can feel confident to find any job I want like working at the garment factory so I can earn money to support my family.”