Watsi

Sokhorn from Cambodia raised $225 for vision-restoring cataract surgery.

100%

$225 raised, $0 to go

$225

raised

to go

Fully funded

Sokhorn's treatment was fully funded on December 1, 2015.

Sokhorn's story
Sokhorn's update

Photo of Sokhorn post-operation

December 23, 2015

Sokhorn received vision-restoring cataract surgery.

After a brief, 40-minute procedure, Sokhorn can see clearly again. In order to ensure that Sokhorn’s successful cataract removal creates long term improvements, “she has been instructed to apply three different ointments and eye drops daily to protect her eye from infection,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, shares.

Sokhorn tells us that her vision is much clearer, and she experiences less pain after the procedure. Along with visiting the pagoda, Sokhorn says looks forward to “cooking food for the monks and easily walking anywhere by myself.”

Sokhorn’s husband adds: “I feel very happy that my wife can see everything clearly again and I am so thankful to the doctors and staff at CSC that helped her receive surgery for her eye.”

After a brief, 40-minute procedure, Sokhorn can see clearly again. In order to ensure that Sokhorn's successful cataract removal creates lon...

November 16, 2015

Sokhorn is a 58-year-old woman living in Cambodia with her husband, three sons, one daughter, and eight grandchildren. She is a nun at the pagoda, and she “spends her time meditating, cleaning around the pagoda, and reading the Bible,” says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC).

Sokhorn has cataracts in her left eye, which causes blurred vision, tearing and irritation. Sokhorn is fearful of the sunshine and says “It is hard to see everything clearly so I can not read or go walking anywhere very well.” CSC shares that Sokhorn traveled seven hours with her husband to reach their services.

For $225, Sokhorn’s cataract can be surgically corrected. Cataract surgery is an outpatient surgery and takes about one hour in total. Cataract surgery has high impact for improving visual acuity and improving quality of life.

“I hope my eye can see everything clearer,” Sokhorn says, “so I can help the monks cook food, and I can read letters more clearly.”

Sokhorn is a 58-year-old woman living in Cambodia with her husband, three sons, one daughter, and eight grandchildren. She is a nun at the p...

Submitted by

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Sokhorn's case was submitted by Hannah Callas at Children's Surgical Centre.

Sokhorn's Timeline

November 16, 2015
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Sokhorn was submitted by Hannah Callas, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.
November 16, 2015
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Sokhorn 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.
November 26, 2015
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Sokhorn's profile was published to start raising funds.
December 1, 2015
FULLY FUNDED
Sokhorn's treatment was fully funded.
December 23, 2015
TREATMENT UPDATE
We received an update on Sokhorn. Read the update.

Funded by 6 donors

Treatment

Cataract - Two Eyes

Diagnosis
Procedure

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.

Theng is a loving mother to two sons, three daughters, and six grandchildren. Theng's husband passed away many years ago, so she lives with her oldest daughter who is a cleaner in a local establishment. When she’s not helping her daughter with the house or grandchildren, Theng likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio. Five years ago, Theng developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her tearing, photophobia 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 Theng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 6th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, Theng will be able to see clearly. Now, CSC is helping Theng raise $253 to fund this procedure. Theng shared, "After surgery, I hope my vision can improve so I can go outside again without trouble, take care of myself and help my daughter with my grandchildren."

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Sorn is a 63-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. She is married and has one son and two grandchildren. Sorn lives with her husband, who is a farmer, and her son, who makes and sells firewood. One year ago, Sorn developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her to experience eye tearing and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Sorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 1st, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Sorn says,"I hope my vision will improve and I can see clearly again."

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Cheng is a 48-year-old rice farmer. He is married with two sons. He is also chief of his local commune. His wife farms the rice paddies with him and his sons are students. When he is at home, he likes to watch the news and boxing on TV. Five years ago, Cheng developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him blurry vision and tearing. This has made life much more difficult for him. But when Cheng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four and a half hours hoping for treatment. On November 21st, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly again and live his full life in the future. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Cheng said: "I hope after surgery I will see better. I want to visit places by myself and read the news."

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Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

0% funded