Yan is a 75-year-old woman who lives with her husband in Cambodia. She likes to go to the pagoda to listen to the monks pray.
Yan heard about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), from a neighbor in her village. She traveled for one hour with her niece to reach CSC for evaluation and treatment of cataracts.
About one year ago, Yan developed a cataract in each eye. A cataract occurs when proteins build up in the lens of the eye. This causes the lens to become cloudy, disrupting the passage of light through the lens and impairing vision. Most cataracts are due to age-related changes in the eye and account for half of all cases of blindness worldwide.
Because of the cataracts, Yan is experiencing blurred vision, burning, irritation, and extreme sensitivity to light. It is difficult for her to see things clearly, recognize faces, do any work, or go anywhere outside by herself.
On October 27, Yan underwent small incision cataract surgery to remove the cloudy lenses from her eyes and replace them with intraocular lens implants. She needs help to fund this $292 treatment, which includes four nights in the hospital, food for her and a caregiver, eye drops, and medicine to reduce pain and prevent infection. After the operation, Yan will be able to see clearly again.
“I hope my aunt can see everything clearly so that she can do work and go anywhere outside by herself,” shares Yan’s niece. “I won’t have to worry about her vision loss anymore.”