Watsi

Success! Htee from Thailand raised $1,500 to fund cataract surgery to restore her vision.

100%

$1,500 raised, $0 to go

$1,500

raised

to go

Fully funded

Htee's treatment was fully funded on May 14, 2022.

Htee's story
Htee's update

Photo of Htee post-operation

May 26, 2022

Htee underwent life-changing surgery to restore her vision.

Before surgery, Htee’s vision in her right eye was blurred. When she read, she saw double words and she said she felt her eye was strange. After surgery, Htee is very happy that she was able to see clearly again! She would like to say thank you so much to the donors who supported her treatment. In the future, she wants to help at the monastery and meditate. She is grateful for the donors who helped her received treatment.

Htee said, “I can see clear words and my vision return normal. I can cook by myself, and I can go to visit my friend at their house. I pray that may all the donors and organisation who helped me be more successful and healthy.”

Before surgery, Htee's vision in her right eye was blurred. When she read, she saw double words and she said she felt her eye was strange. A...

February 13, 2022

Htee is a 63-yeear-old woman who lives alone on near Thai-Burma border. Htee’s daughter and son work in Bangkok and send 1,500 baht (approx. 50 USD) each month to help support their mother. Htee also has a good friend who will often help her when she is unwell, bringing her cooked food and accompanying her to her appointments. In her free time, Htee enjoys visiting with her friend, meditating, and going to the local monastery.

Htee has a cataract in her right eye causing her vision to be very blurry. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund lens replacement surgery for Htee. This surgery is scheduled for February 14th and will help Htee see clearly and keep her independence.

Htee shared, “When I recover from surgery, I will visit my friend. Later on, I want to move into the monastery where my friend’s parents live. They are a monk and nun. I will be able to help them with cooking and cleaning and I can meditate there.”

Htee is a 63-yeear-old woman who lives alone on near Thai-Burma border. Htee's daughter and son work in Bangkok and send 1,500 baht (approx....

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Htee's case was submitted by Bridgitte Agocs at Burma Children Medical Fund.

Htee's Timeline

February 13, 2022
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Htee was submitted by Bridgitte Agocs at Burma Children Medical Fund.
February 15, 2022
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Htee's profile was published to start raising funds.
March 15, 2022
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Htee received treatment at Mae Sot General Hospital in Thailand. 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 14, 2022
FULLY FUNDED
Htee's treatment was fully funded.
May 26, 2022
TREATMENT UPDATE
Htee's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Share Htee's story

Funded by 12 donors

Treatment

Lens Replacement

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $3,505 for Htee's treatment

Subsidies fund $2,005 and Watsi raises the remaining $1,500

Hospital Fees

$1,597

Medical Staff

$501

Medication

$186

Supplies

$1,020

Labs

$30

Other

$171

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients may experience blurred or dim vision, shadows or blind spots in the field of vision, sensitivity to light and glare, and double vision.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Reduced vision can result in social isolation, depression, increased risk of falling and accidents, and ultimately a greater tendency to be disabled. Without surgery, the patient will have no choice but to live with end-stage ocular disease, often resulting in blindness or pain.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

The healthcare system in Burma does not permit the average citizen to receive proper eye examinations. This lack of attention to ocular health is due to a variety of reasons. However, a low optometrist-to-population ratio and insufficient funds are the leading causes.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Surgery will only be performed if the pressure in the eye is stable. The time it takes to stabilize the pressure in the eye depends on the severity of damage to the eye.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

The patient will regain his or her vision, though it may not be perfectly clear. Fortunately, the surgery prevents a complete loss of vision.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Potential side effects include bleeding, infection, scarring, persistent swelling, wound separation, and the need to undergo additional surgery.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Burma has 309 ophthalmologists and 150 eye nurses. Fewer than half of the ophthalmologists perform surgery, and almost two-thirds confine their practice to the cities of Yangon (with a population of about six million) and Mandalay (about three million), where many people have the financial capacity to meet high out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Aside from these main facilities, there is roughly one ophthalmologist for every 500,000 people, and eye health screening and treatment for children and adults is neither comprehensive nor consistent.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no alternatives. If left untreated, the patient will eventually lose his or her vision completely.

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