“I hope I can recognize faces of everyone clearly and that I can help my daughter do some work at home,” says Toy, a 76-year-old Cambodian man. “I’d like to visit my children in Phnom Penh too.”
Toy developed a cataract in each eye one year ago, which causes him blurred vision, burning, irritation, tearing, and sensitivity to sunlight. He traveled three hours with his daughter to reach Watsi’s medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment.
Toy is married with fours sons, six daughters, and seven grandchildren. He enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. Toy cannot afford the $225 procedure that will allow him to return to the activities that he enjoys and recognize the people around him.
Doctors at CSC will perform a phacoemulsification surgery on Toy’s eyes, during which they will break apart and remove the clouded lenses and replace them with clear implant lenses. After the operation and a brief hospital stay, Toy will be able to see clearly again.