Watsi

Seun is a young man from Cambodia who needs $314 to fund strabismus eye surgery.

$0 raised, $314 to go

raised

$314

to go

Seun's story

February 3, 2020

Seun is a 22-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He has two older brothers, and he enjoys playing soccer with his friends in his free time.

Seun has strabismus in both eyes. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye caused by injury or dysfunction in the associated nerves and muscles. It is difficult for him to see clearly and he experiences a loss in confidence.

Seun traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On February 4th, surgeons at our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a corrective procedure to align his eyes. Now, Seun needs help to raise $314 to fund this procedure.

“I hope that after my surgery, my eyes will look straight and I will not feel shy around my friends,” he said.

Seun is a 22-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He has two older brothers, and he enjoys playing soccer with his friends in his free time. ...

Submitted by

Learn more

Seun's case was submitted by Lindsay Bownik at Children's Surgical Centre in Cambodia.

Seun's Timeline

February 3, 2020
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Seun was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre, our medical partner in Cambodia.
February 04, 2020
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Seun received treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. 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.
February 08, 2020
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Seun's profile was published to start raising funds.
March 12, 2020
AWAITING UPDATE
Awaiting Seun's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre.
TODAY
AWAITING FUNDING
Seun is currently raising funds for his treatment.

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Treatment

Squint / Strabismus

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $314 for Seun's treatment

Hospital Fees

$62

Medical Staff

$212

Medication

Supplies

$40

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

A strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other. This can cause decreased vision in children and double vision in adults.

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

In children, strabismus can cause amblyopia, or lazy eye, where the vision development is stunted. If not treated early enough, amblyopia can cause permanent decreased vision or blindness. In adults, strabismus can cause double vision, which can be severely debilitating. In addition to headaches and eye strain, symptoms may include an inability to read comfortably, fatigue when reading, and unstable or "jittery" vision. Notably, strabismus interferes with normal eye contact, often causing embarrassment, anger, and feelings of awkwardness. It affects social communication in a fundamental way, with a possible negative effect on self esteem. One study showed that the behavior of strabismic children was marked by inhibition, anxiety, and emotional disorders.

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

The etiology for strabismus in children is poorly understood. Strabismus affects children worldwide and is reported to be present in about 4% of children.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Surgeons identify and move muscles in the eye in order to straighten the eye. The conjunctiva (clear covering of the white part of the eye) is opened to reveal the muscle and then closed. This is usually done under general anesthesia.

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

For children, straightening the eyes can help treat amblyopia and allow the pathway from the eyes to the brain to develop normally. For adults, straightening the eyes will improve double vision.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Strabismus surgery can cure the problem. The risk of surgery is low. Certain congenital disorders and syndromes can present with strabismus. In this case, children are fully evaluated by medical specialists.

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

Strabismus is primarily a surgical problem. Many patients travel from far provinces to our medical partner because they cannot receive this care locally.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Some strabismus can be treated with glasses or prisms, but surgery is usually needed.

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