Surajkali is 65 and from India. She lives in Rurwahar Village in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Her husband is a farmer while she manages their home. Two years ago, her eyesight began to fail. Eventually, she couldn’t see at all. Her grandson, Suraj, had to guide her around her home, to the store and even to the toilet.

Poor Surajkali! She could no longer do her chores and tasks, and poor Suraj, who had to drop out of school to care for his Grandmother. Surajkali needed him so constantly that he couldn’t play with his friends. Imagine how sad they both must have felt.

Luckily, Surajkali was visited by a community health worker. Going doorto-door, the worker was one of many workers trained under Operation Eyesight’s Community Eye Health model. In Kanpur, this is in partnership with Dr. Jawahar Lal Rohatgi Eye Hospital.

The community health worker identified Surajkali’s blindness as cataract. Surajkali had never heard of this condition. She’d feared she’d be blind forever. The worker advised Surajkali to seek surgery.

The cataract in both of Surajkali’s eyes were soon removed. Now she can see again, thanks to our amazing supporters! She has her independence back and can do her daily tasks. Meanwhile, Suraj has returned to school. He’s happy that he can go out and play with his friends, something every child should be able to do. What’s more, with an education, Suraj has hope for a brighter future. Imagine their joy!

Both Surajkali and Suraj have happy endings thanks to our supporters! We couldn’t do our work without their generosity. From us and everyone our supporters are helping, we say a giant THANK YOU!

The post Her blindness was destroying two lives… appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

She confided in her mother, but they couldn’t seek help since the family is extremely poor. As the only income earner in the family, Manjula’s mother works as a sweeper for the municipal government. Manjula’s two sisters are physically challenged and their mother also has to pay for their treatment.

Over time, Manjula’s vision worsened until she wasn’t able to see anything clearly. Life was just a fuzzy blur! Literally unable to focus, she finally dropped out of school. Without an education, what would become of her?

Finally, Manjula’s mother took her to a hospital, where they learned that she had treatable cataracts in both eyes. However, they could not afford the surgeries! In despair, Manjula’s mother cried that blindness was her daughter’s fate, and Manjula would have to suffer for the rest of her life.

But fate had kinder plans for this young girl! Three months later, two community health workers came across Manjula during a routine door-to-door survey.

By this time, Manjula’s vision was reduced to light and dark blurs, and she had just about given up hope of ever seeing again. Fortunately, the community health workers were able to convince Manjula’s mother that her daughter could have normal vision after surgery.

They brought Manjula to the eye screening program at Operation Eyesight’s partner hospital, Vittala International Institute of Ophthalmology, where she successfully underwent surgery for cataract. And, considering the family’s poverty, the surgeries were performed free of cost, thanks to our generous donors.

Today, Manjula is enjoying her good vision, and will return to school next term. She and her mother are grateful to the community health workers, the hospital and especially Operation Eyesight’s kind-hearted donors for changing the course of her life! Thank you!

The post Cataract surgery ensures a kinder fate appeared first on Operation Eyesight.