Watsi

Success! Chhroy from Cambodia raised $225 for vision-restoring cataract surgery.

100%

$225 raised, $0 to go

$225

raised

to go

Fully funded

Chhroy's treatment was fully funded on May 2, 2016.

Chhroy's story
Chhroy's update

Photo of Chhroy post-operation

July 1, 2016

Chhroy received vision-restoring cataract surgery.

Chhroy can see clearly again for the first time in five years. With restored vision, she looks forward to going home and selling vegetables at the market.

Chhroy’s surgery lasted approximately 45 minutes, during which her clouded lenses were replaced with artificial implants. She can return to Children’s Surgical Centre at any time for follow-up care if she experiences complications, but she has been discharged and is expected to make a full recovery.

Chhroy can see clearly again for the first time in five years. With restored vision, she looks forward to going home and selling vegetables ...

April 19, 2016

Chhroy is a 66-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is a grandmother with two sons, four daughters, and 12 grandchildren.

“Chhroy developed a cataract in each eye 5 years ago. This causes her blurred vision and irritation. She can’t see everything clearly, do work well, or go anywhere outside on her own,” explains her doctor at Children’s Surgical Centre in Cambodia (CSC).

Chhroy traveled to CSC for care, as she is unable to afford the procedure on her own. $225 funds cataract surgery that will remove the cloudy lenses from both of her eyes and replace them with artificial lenses. Funding for her surgery includes post-operative care, and after the surgery, she will be able to see clearly again.

Chhroy is a 66-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is a grandmother with two sons, four daughters, and 12 grandchildren. “Chhroy developed ...

Submitted by

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Chhroy's case was submitted by Hannah Callas at Children's Surgical Centre in Cambodia.

Chhroy's Timeline

April 19, 2016
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Chhroy was submitted by Hannah Callas, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre, our medical partner in Cambodia.
April 19, 2016
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Chhroy received treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. 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.
May 02, 2016
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Chhroy's profile was published to start raising funds.
May 02, 2016
FULLY FUNDED
Chhroy's treatment was fully funded.
July 01, 2016
TREATMENT UPDATE
Chhroy's treatment was successful. Read the update.

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Funded by 7 donors

Treatment

Cataract - Two Eyes

Diagnosis
Procedure

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.

Huy is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two sons and ten grandchildren. She likes to watch the news and Khmer films on TV. Two years ago, Huy developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurred vision, tearing, and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Huy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On April 23, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $211 procedure. She says, "I hope I can see everything clearly again so I can easily learn about Buddha and I can go anywhere outside by myself."

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