Read our powered by our community 🙌 Check out our 🙌
Meet another patient

Watsi logo blueWatsi

Hean is an 80-year-old grandmother from Cambodia who needs $253 to fund her cataract surgery.

Hean
0%
  • $0 raised, $253 to go
$0
raised
$253
to go
Dedicate my donation


We'll send your dedicatee an email
about your gift, along with updates
about Hean's recovery.

March 8, 2023

Hean is an 80-year-old grandmother from Kompong Cham province. Now retired, she worked for many decades as a rice farmer. She has two daughters, one son, and ten grandchildren. Since her husband passed away two years ago, she moved in with her youngest daughter, who is also a rice farmer. In her free time, Hean likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and help care for her grandchildren.

One year ago, Hean developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, thus is unable to travel on her own.

When Hean learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On March 8th, doctors will perform surgery on Hean’s right eye. Hean needs help to fund this $253 procedure. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly.

Hean says, “I hope after surgery I can take good care of my grandchildren.”

Hean is an 80-year-old grandmother from Kompong Cham province. Now retired, she worked for many decades as a rice farmer. She has two daught...

Read more

Hean's Timeline

  • March 8, 2023
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Hean was submitted by Sieng Heng at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • March 8, 2023
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Hean was scheduled to receive 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.

  • March 16, 2023
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Hean's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING FUNDING

    Hean is currently raising funds for her treatment.

  • TBD
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Hean's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre.

Funded by

There are no donors yet. Be the first
to donate!

Funded by

There are no donors yet. Be the first
to donate!

Treatment
Cataract - One Eye
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $253 for Hean's treatment
Hospital Fees
$36
Medical Staff
$174
Medication
$0
Supplies
$43
  • 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.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.