Meet Thorn, a 58-year-old mother and grandmother who lives in Cambodia. Thorn enjoys watching Thai dramas on television and doing housework.
“Two years ago Thorn developed a cataract in each eye,” explains our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “This causes her blurred vision and pain.”
A cataract is a thickened, cloudy lens. Over time, the altered lens loses its ability to focus light properly, resulting in blurry or dull vision and difficulty seeing faraway objects. Cataracts account for 50 percent of all cases of blindness worldwide, and formation typically occurs in both eyes, as Thorn is experiencing.
$225 will cover the cost of surgery to remove the cloudy lenses from both of Thorn’s eyes and replace them with artificial lenses. This amount also includes post-operative follow-up care. After surgery, “Thorn’s vision will improve and she will have regained independence,” CSC tells us.
Thorn shares her hopes after surgery: “I hope my eyes can see everything clearly again and I don’t have to worry about my eyes becoming blind. I hope I will be able to do my work and can go anywhere outside by myself very well.”
Thorn’s son adds: “I hope my mother can see everything clearly again after treatment. I hope I won’t have to worry about her eyes having problems in the future.”