Watsi

Kyin is a farmer from Burma who needs $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery.

72%

$1,093 raised, $407 to go

$1,093

raised

$407

to go

Kyin's story

January 20, 2020

Kyin is a farmer from Burma. She grows vegetable with her husband and her son on her husband’s relatives’ land for free. Their relatives own land that is available for half of the year after the rice is harvested. By selling the vegetables they grow, they earn a living.

Kyin has been diagnosed with cataract and glaucoma in her right eye. She is sensitive to the light and her vision has deteriorated. She can only make out shapes and colors.

Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Kyin. On January 21st, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Kyin’s natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure.

“In the future after I recover, I would like to continue growing vegetables,” said Kyin.

Kyin is a farmer from Burma. She grows vegetable with her husband and her son on her husband’s relatives’ land for free. Their relatives own...

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

Kyin's Timeline

January 20, 2020
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Kyin was submitted by Bridgitte Agocs at Burma Children Medical Fund, our medical partner in Burma.
January 20, 2020
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Kyin's profile was published to start raising funds.
January 21, 2020
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Kyin was scheduled to receive treatment at Mae Sot General Hospital. 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.
TODAY
AWAITING FUNDING
Kyin is currently raising funds for her treatment.
TBD
AWAITING UPDATE
Awaiting Kyin's treatment update from Burma Children Medical Fund.

Share Kyin's story

Funded by 35 donors

Funded by 35 donors

Treatment

Lens Replacement

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $3,505 for Kyin'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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