Read our powered by our community 🙌 Check out our 🙌
Meet another patient

Watsi logo blueWatsi

Success! Maly from Cambodia raised $253 to fund cataract eye surgery.

Maly
100%
  • $253 raised, $0 to go
$253
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Maly's treatment was fully funded on February 2, 2023.

Photo of Maly post-operation

February 13, 2023

Maly underwent cataract eye surgery.

Maly and her daughter traveled to our medical partner CSC at the advice of a neighbor. After the successful surgery, they returned to their home province. Her eye felt a bit dry for the first few days, but her sight has gradually improved with the use of eye drops. She is thrilled that she can be more independent and more confident she will not fall when she goes outside. This will improve Maly’s life because she will see well enough to manage the farm and help her children and grandchildren.

Maly said: “I am so grateful to the people who paid for me to have surgery to improve my eyesight. I can be more useful to my family and visit with neighbors. Thank you to the hospital staff for helping me.”

Maly and her daughter traveled to our medical partner CSC at the advice of a neighbor. After the successful surgery, they returned to their...

Read more
September 6, 2022

Maly is a 54-year-old mother of three. Maly works as a rice farmer. She has one daughter, two sons, and seven beautiful grandchildren. Maly’s husband passed away several years ago, so she lives alone. Maly’s children work as farmers and help to support her living. Maly likes to spend her time watching movies, listening to the news, and playing with her grandchildren.

One year ago, Maly developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her photophobia, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own.

When Maly learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 6th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, CSC is helping Maly raise $253 to fund this procedure.

Maly shared, “I hope after surgery my vision can improve so I can help my children more and take care of my grandchildren.”

Maly is a 54-year-old mother of three. Maly works as a rice farmer. She has one daughter, two sons, and seven beautiful grandchildren. Maly'...

Read more

Maly's Timeline

  • September 6, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Maly was submitted by Sieng Heng at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • September 6, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Maly received treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre in Cambodia. 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.

  • September 9, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Maly's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • February 2, 2023
    FULLY FUNDED

    Maly's treatment was fully funded.

  • February 13, 2023
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Maly's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 5 donors

Funded by 5 donors

Treatment
Cataract - One Eye
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $253 for Maly's treatment
Hospital Fees
$36
Medical Staff
$174
Medication
$0
Supplies
$43
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients with cataracts experience decreased vision, discomfort, and irritation. Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, causing functional blindness. These changes in the lens commonly occur with increasing age and therefore affect elderly people. Cataracts can also be congenital or traumatic.

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

The decreased vision from cataracts can cause functional blindness. This makes it difficult for the patient to conduct daily activities. Patients often need a family member to help guide and care for them. If the patient is elderly, this often affects a young child in the family. When a grandmother needs help getting around, a young child is often assigned to help with her daily tasks. That child cannot go to school.

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

In many countries in the developing world, surgical services are inadequate. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally. Even where surgical services are available, barriers to surgery remain, including cost, shortage of human resources, poor infrastructure, and limited awareness about access to available services.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed worldwide. Surgeons remove the cloudy lens and place a clear lens implant in its place.

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

A patient's vision can improve to 20/20 within one day after the surgery.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Cataract surgery is highly effective and carries a low risk.

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

Cataract surgery is available in most areas of Cambodia. However, free surgery is not as widely available.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Some debilitating effects of cataracts can be improved with glasses. When the cataract becomes mature, however, the only definitive treatment is surgical.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.