October 26, 2016
Sem is a 78-year-old Cambodian rice farmer with six daughters and fourteen grandchildren. He likes to plant crops around his home and visit the local pagoda to listen to monks pray.
About two years ago, Sem began experiencing partial blindness, burning, and irritation. Sem developed a cataract in each of his eyes, resulting in very cloudy lenses. The protein buildup makes it difficult for him to see people clearly, do any work, or go anywhere outside on his own.
When Sem learned about Watsi’s medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled four hours to reach the care center for treatment. On October 26, Sem underwent surgery, in which doctors replaced his cloudy lenses with artificial ones. $292 will cover all medication and surgical expenses.
“I hope my vision will improve,” Sem shares, “I hope I can see everything more clearly, so that I can easily do my work in the rice fields, do work at home, and go anywhere outside by myself.”
Sem is a 78-year-old Cambodian rice farmer with six daughters and fourteen grandchildren. He likes to plant crops around his home and visit ...
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December 19, 2016
Sem successfully received vision-restoring cataract surgery.
Sem’s eye cataract was successfully removed from his right eye and clear vision has been restored. Following the operation, Sem was given eye drops to reduce inflammation and fight infection. He went home after the first surgery and has yet to return to have the same operation completed in the other eye. Because returning to the clinic requires taking a day off from work and usually a family escort, he may have had trouble finding a day to come back. Also, because he left with clear vision in one eye, his problems with blurred vision are less of a burden making the second surgery a less immediate priority than the first. The second surgery will be free whenever Sem returns.
“I feel very happy that I can see clearly again,” says Sem. “I am able to continue my work as a farmer, do some work at home, and go anywhere easily.”
Sem's eye cataract was successfully removed from his right eye and clear vision has been restored. Following the operation, Sem was given ey...
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