WHAT WE DO - Sight Restoration Stories

“Over 300,000 cataract operations are impressive, but to change one person’s life with sight-restoring surgery is magnificent. That is the reason we do it.”

Dr. Peter Nash, an ophthalmologist and Seva Canada board member, wrote those words in 2005. Since that time, thousands more children, women and men have had their sight restored thanks to the generosity of our donors.

"When the eye patch is removed, it often appears as if a light has been turned on -- the patient's face lights up, there is a smile, first of disbelief and then joy," writes Dr. Martin Spencer, Seva board member and ophthalmologist. Click here to read Dr. Spencer's article on how lives are transformed by cataract surgery and see some before and after photographs of ecstatic patients. Cataract surgery is one of the success stories of medicine worldwide.

"Cataract surgery in adults is just wonderful," says paediatric ophthalmologist, Dr. Tim Lavy. "It's the best operation in the world. With children and babies the situation is different. Every day counts."

Below are stories of just a few of the thousands upon thousands of individuals who have had their lives transformed by gifts of sight.

Sight-restoration stories from Tibet

Datso, age 12, Tibet

Datso is 12 years old and lives in Tibet with her family and new baby brother, but Datso is not like other 12 year olds. She is sad most of the time because cataracts in both eyes have caused her to go blind.

Her family heard about the Seva eye camp in their region and brought her to the hospital. Her uncle told Seva staff, “When other kids are playing outside of her home, she just cries and cries. She can’t stop asking us why she is different and why she has to be blind.”

Datso’s life as a blind girl has been hard and very lonely. She also worried she might not be able to have eye surgery and she was scared that she might never see again. With all these thoughts running through her head, her self-esteem was very low. “I am blind and don’t deserve any friends,” she said. “I am not capable of doing anything but sitting in my home with my grandparents all the time. Nobody is willing to play with me. I can’t see now and I am afraid that I will never see again,” she continued.

After cataract surgery on both eyes, Datso and her family were overjoyed that she could see again. “I feel like doing everything now but, first of all, I need to see my one-month old brother at home!”  

Dekyi, Tibet

Two years ago, when Dekyi went blind from cataracts, it was a full-blown disaster for her family. Dekyi is a single mother with two of her own children and four orphaned nephews and nieces. When Dekyi went blind, her 12-year-old daughter had to care for the whole family and her 7-year-old-son, Dorjee, had to provide full-time care for his mother. Dreams of school and normal lives were impossible.

In September 2008, Dorjee led his mother to the Seva eye camp in Chamdo, Tibet where Dolma Chugki of Seva’s office in Lhasa spoke to her.“My name is Dekyi. It means “happiness”, but I’ve never had that once in my life. My life has been about death, loneliness, debts and now blindness.”

As soon as Dorjee learned that his mother was going to have surgery so she could see again, he began to cry, both from joy and for all the pain borne for so many years by his mother and himself. Through her tears Dekyi said, “I am now feeling happy -- happy for the first time in my life.”

There was a particular message that Dekyi asked Dolma to pass along to all the supporters of Seva.

“Please tell all the people in your organization. They are the ones who have helped me end my bad karma and bring a glimpse of light to my life!” Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke those words of gratitude.

Tenzen Chudren, age 6, Tibet

Six-year-old Tenzen Chudren was so devastated by the loss of her eyesight that she would cling desperately to her mother, not letting go even for a moment. Tenzen, the youngest of three children in her family, was affected by congenital cataracts. Now, blindness made her edgy and nervous and, in addition to the physical blindness, her personality change was shattering for the whole family.

Tenzen’s anguished mother told Seva staff, “My daughter's personality has changed a lot since she became blind. She barely talks to anyone and she wants me to hold her every second. If I take her off my lap - even for a moment - she just cries and cries. Her father has been doing all the work because I am completely tied up with Tenzen." The pain and concern in Tenzen's mother's eyes told the story of her sadness and frustration even more eloquently than her words.

When Tenzen's mother lifted the little girl from her lap and placed her on a separate chair, Tenzen immediately panicked. She began frantically searching for her mother, "Where are you going, Mom? Please don't leave me! Give me your hand… I need to hold your hand, please!" After fumbling for a while, Tenzen eventually found her Mom's right hand, grabbed it, brought it to her chest and held it tightly as if she would never let it go again.

Three days after her first cataract surgery, the Seva staff visited Tenzen and her mother. Both look relaxed and happy. Tenzen's mother was excited, "Guess what? Tenzen doesn't feel nervous anymore. She can be alone without my presence. She is still a shy girl but now she is curious about everything around her."

Twenty days later, Tenzen had her second cataract operation. Just a few days later, Dolma at the Seva Tibet office had the pleasure of taking Tenzen, her mother and her uncle - a monk - to a children’s restaurant in Lhasa. Dolma bought the little girl an ice cream topped with flavoring. Apart from enjoying the sweet tastes, she marveled at all the different colors. And now she could see with both eyes and judge distances, Tenzen picked up a french fry and fed it to her mother -- a simple act of love that would have been impossible for her before her eye surgery. Tenzen has once again become a happy and relaxed child. She is curious and ready for life, with her eyes set on a more promising future.

This story was prepared by Dolma Chugi of Seva's Tibet office.

Shi Dok, Tibet

Shi Dok, a 58-year-old Tibetan woman with bilateral cataracts, came to the Zadho eye camp in eastern Tibet in summer. She was completely blind and was guided to the camp by her daughter and cousin. Her face was full of sadness and her hair was very messy, as if she hadn’t brushed it for years.

The day after her surgery, her daughter was particularly happy that her mother could see again. She would be able to care of herself again. Shi Dok herself began to cry. After taking a long breath, she said in a voice trembling with emotion, “My husband died this winter without waiting for this moment. He left without me having a good look at his face!”

Nyima Yishe, age 9, Tibet

Nyima had bilateral cataract (cataracts in both eyes) and became blind at age 7. Because he could no longer see the blackboard, his textbooks, or even his classmates, he was forced to quit school in Grade 1. For two years before his sight was restored by Seva, he stayed at home, greatly missing his life at school and playtime with his friends.

The first thing Nyima did after his bandages were removed was to spot the pen in his uncle’s pocket and try to write his numbers. He was able to write from 1 to 8, but had forgotten how to write the number 9 because it had been so long since he could see or be at school. With his sight restored, Nyima can go back to school and lead a normal boy’s life.

Deyang, age 75, Tibet

When Deyang became blind from cataracts in both eyes she had no one to look after her. Luckily a nearby monastery took her in and fed and housed her for her three years of total darkness. But life was still extremely hard, as she was mostly on her own. “There were times when I had to relieve myself in my room because I didn’t even know where my door was,” Deyang said. “And… there was a time when I bumped my head against the wall very hard and my head remained so swollen that my hat didn’t even fit my head for a month.”

After receiving bilateral cataract surgery at a Seva-sponsored eye camp, Deyang was smiling and trying to walk on her own. “Honestly, I am nervous about walking by myself. I feel like I need to have somebody to escort me,” she said. But one step at a time, she walked towards a new life of light and sight.

Jangyong Lhamo, age 41, Tibet

Jangyong Lhamo had many tragedies in her life, even before she lost her sight to bilateral cataracts. “A big snowstorm wiped out all my yaks and sheep in 1995, and I had to move. Without a stable job and raising three children, my life was very difficult. Then my vision deteriorated and I became virtually blind, so I could not even get a job.”

“At that time, I was pregnant with my third child and I had to stay at home all day. One day my second child sneaked out of our home to go by the river to play. I wasn’t able to see him leave the room, but as soon as I noticed he was gone I ran outside to call him. Suddenly I heard my son screaming from the river. I knew that he was in trouble and I ran towards his voice and the sound of the river. He cried, ‘Mom! Help! Help!’ My son had fallen into the water while he was playing. He drowned to death.”

“After losing my son, I really hated myself and I attempted suicide many times. But if I ended my life, who would take care of my other two children? If I was not blind, I could have saved my son. If I was not blind, my son would be right beside me today.”

“Today is a very special day for me, because I am able to see my two children and I will provide better care for them in the future.”

Renzen Wangmo, age 4, Tibet

Renzen has a younger brother who is blind as well. On the second day after surgery, Renzen and her mother are sitting outside the hospital with big smiles on their faces. Her mother said, “Renzen can see today, and I am very happy.” Renzen was delighted to be able to see the beautiful flowers in the hospital garden and she picked a few to put in her hair.

3 Siblings, Tibet

Story by Dr. Sonam Dradup

When Norbu 16, Metok 14 and Tashi 27 (shown left to right) arrived at the Seva eye camp they simply held hands and stood still in the hospital hall, trying to present themselves as well as they could. Their uncle, Chilu Dorjee, had brought them to camp from Chamdo. The infamous 80km drive is dangerous and bumpy. The drive can take a full day but it must have felt like an eternity for the three blind siblings being shaken around as passengers. Now, disoriented from the journey, they also appeared nervous, timid and ashamed.

Tashi blamed himself for not being a good father to his 5-year old daughter, 2-year old son and another son who died. Because of his blindness, it is his wife Ngawang who has been raising the children and herding the animals.

“I am nothing but a burden,” he said, his face deeply sad. “I have lost many things over the years, but most of all I have lost my dignity for being blind. Every morning I wake up feeling hopeless and worthless inside. Each morning I try to figure out how I can kill time for the whole day.”

When Norbu and Metok also became blind, all the family felt the pain but Tashi was particularly affected because he knew what they were going to go through. Until then, both Norbu and Metok had the normal hopes and dreams of children their age. With their blindness, these dreams would be unattainable.

At the eye camp, all three siblings were diagnosed with bilateral cataracts. They underwent surgery on one eye the next day and on the second eye the day after that. With their eyesight restored, smiles returned to their faces.

Four Sisters, Tibet: Yangmu, Raza, Alu and Gazom
Story by Dr. Sonam Dradup, Seva Tibet

Yangmu 27, Raza 30, Alu 18 and Gazom 25 are four sisters who were born blind. They are pictured here, left to right, with their father, Sunga in the middle. Their mother is dead and they live with four other siblings – the daughters of their mother and Sunga’s brother. It’s a big and complicated family! The two brothers both share one wife. This is a common practice in some villages in Tibet to prevent family assets being spread too thin. Now the two fathers are raising 8 kids including 4 blind daughters.

Initially, Alu - the youngest - didn’t go to the eye camp. Sunga thought that it would cost too much for transportation and accommodation for all four daughters. After struggling for a long time to decide which daughter could not go, Alu volunteered to stay at home. She told herself there would be other opportunities for her in the future. She told her father, “My sisters are older and they are more desperate for the treatment. Please take them. The sooner they can see, the better their chances to find somebody to marry.”  When they all left to go to the camp, Alu cried secretly and wished she was going with them, too.

As soon as I learned this story, I immediately paid for a motorcycle to collect Alu. Luckily her home was 75 kilometres from the camp and it took less than a day.

The motorcycle man notified me of Alu’s arrival and I walked with him to the hospital gate. There she was, still on the motorcycle, with half of her face veiled with her scarf, waiting to get off. Alu looked identical to her other three sisters; round face, big eyes, brown skin, red cheeks and shaved head. Their father, Sunga, instructed the young women to put their right hands on the shoulder of the person in front of them. He then led the four sisters to the examination room. With operations scheduled for later that day, the four girls chatted among themselves.

The surgeries went well and Sunga was very relieved. Their postoperative vision is not as good as some other patients because their cataracts had remained untreated since birth allowing amblyopia to develop in their eyes. Even so, they can now see the food in their bowls and go to the latrine themselves. All four of them were very happy that they are no longer officially blind. If they find somebody to marry, they will be grateful. If not, they will be living together as before but helping each other. They were sad that they never saw the face of their mother who passed away in 1994 but nothing could take the smiles off their faces or the satisfaction they felt for the first time in their lives.

Sight-restoration stories from Nepal

Unknown woman in Nepal 

Seva Board Member and ophthalmologist, Dr. Marty Spencer, met this woman at a remote eye camp near Mt. Everest, accessible only by foot. All the surgical instruments, autoclave and other supplies were carried on the backs of Sherpas. The site, on the edge of a tiny village, was spectacular: thatched houses scattered over green hills which were dwarfed by the vast white wall of the Himalayas, but the beauty of the surroundings was invisible to many of the visitors to the camp, who were led, or even carried, by relatives in hope that they could have their sight restored.

On Dr. Spencer’s third day at the camp he came upon a woman standing with a child in her arms. She had a beatific smile on her face as she held the baby. Dr. Spencer recognized her as one of his patients from the first day's surgery. He learned that she lived with her family in a village many miles away in the hills. She began to lose her sight several years earlier and within a few years could only tell day from night. She gave birth to her last child in virtual darkness, despite the presence of daylight, and had never seen his face.

Three weeks previously, a friend of her husband's told him of having heard about an upcoming eye camp. Despite the distance, they decided it was worth trying to get help. They set out, with their two youngest children, leading her on the trail toward the village where the eye camp was to take place. They left behind their two older children to tend the crops and animals. After a 10-day walk they reached the Seva-sponsored eye camp where Dr. Spencer’s surgery restored her sight. “I will never forget the smile on her face, or the way she looked at her infant son,” said Dr. Spencer. She told him, “You have given me divine eyes.”

Gyani and her daughter, Nepal
Story by Seva Canada Board Member, Linda Young

On Christmas Day 2007, I traveled eight hours through the hills of Nepal to the village of Thulobesi to see the work of Seva’s partner, the Lumbini Eye Institute (LEI). This had been a long-time wish of mine – to observe an eye camp and the many lives it affects.

I watched as the eye care team expertly and efficiently set up various stations in different classrooms of the village school. Vision testing, refractive services and surgical areas all had their places. Curious villagers and anxious patients crowded around with anticipation.

In the pre-surgical room, where ophthalmic assistants were getting patients ready for cataract surgeries, I was drawn to a family engaged in a lively discussion.

Gyani, an impoverished young mother in her early 20’s and her two-year-old daughter, Gothi, had both been diagnosed with bilateral cataracts. Gyani had never seen her child before and her nervousness about the outcome of surgery was evident. After many reassurances from LEI staff that all would be well, Gyani agreed to have surgery that afternoon. As is usually the case with bilateral cataracts, only one eye is operated on at a time.  Meanwhile, Gothi, cradled in her uncle’s arms, cried for her mother, afraid of all that was happening in her blind world.

Early the next morning, I greeted Gyani. Her bandages had been removed and, for the first time, I saw a huge smile on her face. Gyani was so thankful for the vision that had been restored in the one eye that she asked to have the cataract on her other eye removed. She also asked for her daughter to have the same surgery.

Today, both mother and daughter are able to see and live more enriched lives -- lives that only a few months ago would have been impossible. My visit to Nepal was a touching reminder of the struggle of many parents and children in developing countries. It reinforced my appreciation of the invaluable work and dedication of Seva, its partners and its donors.

Kali Kami, age 70, Nepal

Sixty years ago, a young 10-year old girl named Kali was married and by the age of 15, she had had her first child. Her family grew to three sons and a daughter before her husband passed away 40 years ago. Along with the loss of her husband, Kali Kami has also struggled with poor eyesight for many years.

Twelve years ago, she had surgery on her right eye in India but still needed glasses. Her glasses broke 3 years ago and she has tried to manage her daily activities ever since with broken glasses. Knowing about her plight, her neighbours told her about a Seva-sponsored surgical eye camp in Doti. Even though Doti is a two-day walk from where she lives, she was able to make the journey with the help of her grandson.

At the Eye Care Centre, they found that with a strong prescription lens, she still had some vision in her right eye. Her left eye was worse. She could perceive light but had no clarity of vision. Fortunately, she was a good candidate for cataract surgery and an intraocular lens (IOL) implant and after a successful operation, Kali Kami returned to Doti a happy woman with improved sight.

Parbati Giri, age 72, Nepal

Parbati Giri has not had an easy life. She was married at the age of 10 to a 22-year-old man. Her husband later died from a high fever when she was in her mid-40s leaving her vulnerable. At that time, her brother-in-law was able to take whatever property she had – mainly because she was the mother of his dead brother’s children.

With all her property gone, Parbati Giri was forced to beg in order to survive. In order for this to be culturally acceptable in her community, she had to wear a yellow dress. Parbati Giri became a hermit and began living in a temple near the Seti River at Gopi ghat. That was 25 years ago. From time to time she would get food from a kind person in the community, but her only regular sustenance has been the water of the Seti River.

More recently, her vision started to fail and she has been completely blind for the last two years. She was brought to the Seva-sponsored eye camp in Doti by people who lived nearby. After surgery on one eye, she left the camp with restored vision in that eye.

Sight-restoration stories from eastern Africa

Shamimu, age 5, Tanzania

Shamimu had cataracts in both eyes and was rapidly losing her sight. The only way she could see to do her schoolwork was to rest her chin on the page with her eyes as close as possible to her pen. Shamimu was a bit nervous about going to the hospital because her friends told her that she was going to have her eyes replaced with goat’s eyes! But after sight-restoring surgery at the Seva-sponsored Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology, Shamimu was able to see again, smile again and return to school and the normal life of a little girl.

Rose Mollel, Tanzania

Three-year-old Rose Mollel started to go blind from bilateral cataracts when she was just one. Rose’s mother, Leah, tells the story:

“We wanted to take her to hospital but we didn’t have enough money. My husband and I argued so much about getting the girl to hospital that I had to leave my two kids with my mother-in-law and return to live with my parents.

“For three months, I dared not go back to my husband because I was scared of him, but the desire to restore my daughter’s sight still burned in my heart. One day, my father listened to a presentation by the Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology (KCCO) on the prevention of eye diseases at a local primary school. He learned about “Mtoto wa Jicho” or cataracts. He was able to explain Rose’s problem to the KCCO staff and they promised they would take her to the hospital during their next visit.

“My father ordered Rose to be brought from my husband’s home to my parents’ village. The next time the KCCO staff came, Rose and I travelled with them to the hospital. I had no idea what it would take to operate on her eyes and I had no money to pay for surgery. Margreth at KCCO told me not to worry, that my child would be fine, and that KCCO would cover all the expenses.

“Rose was operated on in early December 2006 and during the follow-up visit, Rose was prescribed with spectacles. I am very grateful to have my daughter’s sight restored.”

Andoniaina, age 8, Madagascar

Andoniaina, age 8, lives on a small island in the Mozambique Channel, off the southwest coast of Madagascar. Ando is severely myopic she could barely see beyond the end of her nose.

Ando's journey to seek help was long. She and her father travelled one hour by speedboat to Tulear on the mainland, then drove 1,000 kilometres to the capital of Antananarivo to get her eyes examined. They were eventually referred to a hospital in Antsirabe, 170 km south of the capital for a second opinion. That’s where Dr. Henry Nkumbe, Seva Canada’s partner in Madagascar, saw the little girl and asked Seva Canada for help.

Seva then called on longterm supporter and optometrist, Dr. Larry Louie, for his expertise. Together Dr. Louie and his colleague Wayne Trieu of I-Lab Optical in Edmonton created a very special pair of glasses. The glasses were then hand-delivered to Madagascar in time for Christmas by a representative of Sherritt International Corporation, a Canadian resources company.

“Something like this is not usually done and isn’t readily available. That’s what made it challenging,” said Dr. Louie. The typical eyeglass prescription is 2.00 to -3.00 points, but Ando has a prescription of -27.00 points for her right eye and -23.50 points for her left eye. This means that, without glasses, Ando was essentially blind and would not have been able to see the faces of her family.

To keep the glasses from becoming too thick and thus brushing against her eyelashes, Dr. Louie and optician Wayne Trieu used special myodisc lenses with two bi-concave lenses on the front and back of each lens. Another challenge was getting a frame that was strong and durable and that would last a long time.

Andoniaina’s story and the way in which Canadians in three provinces came together to help her was featured in the Edmonton Journal and on Global News.

Khadija, age 1, Tanzania

Khadija lives with her parents in a one-room house in northern Tanzania. She was just one when her mother noticed “white spots" in Khadija’s eyes. She had no idea what they were of how they might be treated. Sadly, Khadija was going blind from bilateral cataracts.

Khadija’s mother had to watch her daughter constantly, even carrying her on her back while cooking so she could not wander towards the stove. Khadija could not tolerate the sun, forever closing her eyes. People would ask, “Why is your child always sleeping?” Khadija was not eating well and was bullied by playmates who took things from her knowing she couldn’t see.

At first the family turned to prayer, but then Khadija’s uncle persuaded her skeptical father to take her to the Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology in Moshi. Surgery was postponed twice due to anemia, but finally Khadija’s right eye was operated on and, a week later, her left.

Four months after the surgeries, Khadija’s mother reported that her daughter (now two) was always happy, lively and smiling. She herself is more relaxed, able to do chores while her child plays with friends – so the whole household is more congenial, and the father is definitely a happier man. He never believed in surgery until he saw that his child could see again!

Sight-restoration stories from Guatemala

Fidelia Silverstre Fajardo, 84, Guatemala

Fidelia Silverste Fajardo, age 84, began to lose her vision 20 years ago, making it nearly impossible for her to do her daily activities at home like cooking for her five family members and cleaning the house.

Fidelia lives with her family in the town of San Jose which is a few miles from the Mercado Municipal. One of the consequences of her vision loss was a bad fall that caused her to fracture both hips. With little sight and the inability to walk she was limited to a wheelchair.

Fidelia thought that her life was over being bound to a wheelchair and unable to see. She felt useless because she could no longer contribute to her family. In Guatemala, the working poor work and contribute to their families till the day they die. Without a purpose Fidelia was starting to lose hope. Also, Fidelia’s family was beginning to struggle to care for her. Someone had to stay home from work to take care of her, meaning a loss in one person’s wages -- a loss this poor family could not afford. Then a member of her family found out about Seva’s partner, Visualiza, where Fidelia was diagnosed with cataracts resulting in light perception visual acuity in both eyes.   

She had surgery on her right eye first on February 12, 2009 and she received an operation to her left eye on February 26, 2009. After the second surgery she told the doctors, “I am so happy that I can see again and little by little I am able to walk. I am able to cook and serve my family. I thank you so much and I do not know how to repay you. May God bless you for helping me!”

Estefany, age 12, Guatemala

Estefany lives in a two-room wooden house with her three brothers, father and stepmother. She is treated very badly, not only by her peers at school, but also by members of her family because of her eye conditions. Her parents took her to another clinic but they were unable to get assistance for her because her father, who is a farmer, makes less than $8 a day. Her stepmother is a maid who makes even less.

She was brought to Visualiza, Seva’s partner in Guatemala, in December 2008 and during the visit she was diagnosed with both strabismus (squint) and ptosis (drooping eyelid). Estefany had first surgery in February 2009 for strabismus and the next week she had surgery for the ptosis. The surgery has helped Estefany greatly and she has not had to deal with the pain of being called “ugly”. She does much better with her school work and has great visual acuity. Her beautiful smile speaks volumes.

Sight-restoration stories from Cambodia

Samarith Romchong, 5, Cambodia

It’s never a good sign when children stop playing.

Samarith Romchong, a 5-year-old Cambodian girl, was gradually losing interest in playing with her siblings and friends. Her parents were worried as she was becoming more clumsy, knocking things over and falling down a lot. Her falls caused several injuries.

Romchong’s parents are very poor and struggle to care for their 5 children with their tiny plot of land. They live in a small village with no road access about 75 km from Banteay Meanchey Eye Unit.

Desperate to help their youngest child, they sought help from traditional healers and went many times to different pagodas to give prayers and offerings that might help their child. They even sold their cow in their search for a cure.

Meanwhile, Romchong’s condition deteriorated. She started to stay alone at home, crying all the time. When her mother went into the fields to work, her father had great trouble caring for his daughter because he had been deaf for a long time.

One day a relative who lives near the Banteay Meanchey Eye Unit visited Samarith Romchong’s family and learned of their troubles. When they looked carefully at the girl’s eyes, they noticed whitish pupils. The relative suggested that it seemed like a cataract. If so, Samarith could be treated at the eye unit with surgery and could regain her sight.

On November 7, 2008 the family made the big journey taking Romchong to the Seva-funded eye unit where the eye doctor examined her and diagnosed cataracts in both eyes. On November 10 her left eye cataract was successfully operated on under general anaesthesia. Thanks to generous Seva donors, the treatment was provided totally free of cost.

When their daughter returned to the eye unit for her first post-op follow-up, the parents were so grateful to the eye unit team and supporting donors. They said their child had been given a new life. She can now select the food she wants to eat, play with her friends, and avoid falls and injury.

Romchong received surgery on her right eye in January 2009. She is one of 90,000 people in Cambodia blinded by cataracts; another 22,000 new cases are added each year. Thousands of others suffer from low vision which could easily be corrected with glasses.