Meet 81-year-old Yan – father of 11 and grandfather of 40! Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us that Yan “enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray and taking care of and playing with his grandchildren at home.”
“Yan developed a cataract in his left eye 6 months ago,” CSC explains. “It causes him blurred vision, tearing, discharge, and he is afraid of sunshine. He cannot see clearly, recognize faces, do any work, or go outside on his own.”
Cataracts occur as proteins develop in the lens of the eye, causing cloudiness. Without treatment, the cloudiness increases over time and results in slowly deteriorating vision. They can ultimately result in total blindness and are especially common in regions near the equator due to high UV exposure.
For $150, we can fund surgery to treat Yan’s cataract. During the surgery a small incision will be made in the eye to surgically remove the clouded lens and replace it with a new, artificial substitute. After treatment, CSC expects Yan to see clearly again.
With regained vision, Yan can enjoy a more independent lifestyle. He shares, “I hope my eye can see everything [clearer] than now so I can do some work by myself and go to the pagoda.”
His granddaughter, who accompanied him to CSC’s clinic, adds: “I hope after surgery my grandfather can see everything clearly again.”
