Em is a 43-year-old wife and mother of three from Cambodia. To support her family, Em works at a local rubber farm. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), shares, “after working, Em cleans the house and cooks dinner for her family.”
After being troubled by reduced sight, Em visited CSC’s clinic and was diagnosed with a mature cataract in her left eye. Cataracts occur when a thin, cloudy film appears over the eye lens. Without intervention, this mass continues to grow and solidify—causing a decline in vision.
The cataract in Em’s left eye has reached maturity—the cloudy film is now a solid, opaque layer over the eye lens. Consequently, “the cataracts in Em’s eye has made her partially blind,” CSC explains. This loss of vision has made it impossible for Em to work.
Unfortunately, Em’s poor vision also detracts from her independence—CSC tells us, “she can’t really go anywhere alone. She doesn’t go to the pagoda unless there is someone willing to help her.”
With $150, Em will receive an operation to remove the old, opaque lens and replace it with a new, artificial one. Following two days of hospitalization, Em’s vision will be restored.
CSC shares, “After surgery, she wants to go back to the rubber farm and be able to walk anywhere she wants to.”
