You see, a childhood accident left Sopilal nearly blind in her left eye, so she relied entirely upon the right for most of her life. It was a struggle at times, but she managed, and she felt fortunate to see the bright smiles of her family and the tiny beads, needles and string she used to create beautiful artisan jewellery.

But at 78 years old, the one eye she relied upon was no longer clear. Sopilal’s vision faded, her already limited eyesight blurring more and more. No longer could she create her jewellery, nor make out the faces of her children and grandchildren that brought her so much happiness.

She was physically present with her family, but Sopilal felt all alone.

Until one day when a community health worker, trained by Operation Eyesight in primary eye care, made his way, through the rough terrain of nearly impassible roads, to the remote Ormakau village to screen residents for eye conditions. With an initial check, Sopilal was encouraged to seek help for her failing vision. There was likely a simple solution to her predicament.

Accompanied and guided by her daughter, Sopilal visited a nearby health centre where she received her diagnosis – it was indeed a cataract that had been fogging her vision. But there was good news – a simple surgery could restore her sight.

Although the procedure seemed simple and straightforward, Sopilal still found it daunting. What if it didn’t work? What if she could never see her loved ones’ faces clearly again? Sopilal hesitated at first, but her daughter’s gentle insistence convinced her to give it a try.

The day of the surgery arrived, and Sopilal was more nervous than she’d ever been. The procedure was quick, and soon she was resting in the recovery room with her right eye bandaged, still feeling unsure of the outcome.

But the following day her bandage was removed. Sopilal blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the light, and then she gasped. The world was no longer a blur of grey! She could see her daughter’s beautiful face! 

The next few weeks were filled with joyful reunions and rediscoveries. Sopilal could walk on her own and bead her jewellery once again, unhindered by blurred vision.  

Because of donors like you, Sopilal’s isolation ended. She no longer felt alone and was once again filled with the simple joy of living in the company of her children and grandchildren, catching unobstructed glimpses of their smiling faces. 

With files from Patrick Wainaina Muthii.

The post Remaining sight saved by cataract surgery appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

But Pushpita’s ambitions are overshadowed with worry when she arrives at school. She’s been silently struggling as she notices more and more that her vision is not as clear as it once was. Reading the blackboard has become challenging, but she keeps her worries to herself, hoping her eyesight will miraculously improve on its own. 

Can you imagine being in class and the other kids raise their hands, eager to answer the teacher’s questions, excited to demonstrate what they’ve learned, while you can’t even make out what’s been written on the blackboard? Pushpita is isolated by her condition… 

Until one day she shows up to school to see an eye screening camp, organized by Sundarban Eye Hospital with support from Operation Eyesight. Though she hesitates at first, Pushpita participates once she sees her peers doing the same. It is nice to feel like part of the group again. 

And things get even better once her eyes are checked – Pushpita simply needs glasses! Thrilled that she’s found a solution to her problem, she hurries to the Namkhana Vision Centre to which she’s been referred. 

Pushpita’s eyes widen with astonishment and she brims with happiness as she dons her brand-new glasses – her world suddenly comes into focus.  

Thanks to the support of our donors and partners, Pushpita is now the first to proudly raise her hand in class. Not only has her vision improved, but she also feels confident and included again.  

But there are many more people like Pushpita waiting for their chance to see the world in all its beauty and experience its possibilities. 

Please donate today so we can continue to transform lives through the Gift of Sight. 

The post The Gift of Sight changes the trajectory appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

When Anastasia first began experiencing vision problems, she went to a nearby hospital, where she was diagnosed with pterygium — a growth on the eye’s conjunctiva. But, the pterygium was still immature, and she was advised to wait. By the time it had matured enough to be removed, her husband had grown older, fallen ill and was no longer able to work, leaving them without the means to pay for the surgery. “As a sole breadwinner and a mother of two teenagers who is also taking care of my husband, my meagre income could hardly take care of our daily needs, so undergoing a surgery was an impossible dream,” Anastasia shared. 

Hope returned when Anastasia heard about an eye screening camp organized by Operation Eyesight. She attended, expecting little more than medication, but instead, she was diagnosed with a mature pterygium that could be removed through surgery at Operation Eyesight’s partner hospital Watborg Eye Services — free of charge, thanks to the generosity of donors. Anastasia underwent successful surgery, and she was also diagnosed with a refractive error and received prescription glasses at no cost. 

With her vision fully restored and her business back on track, Anastasia could finally see a brighter future for her family.  

“Though I feel that a mere thank you is not enough to express my appreciation, there is no other way to express to my joy except with a thank you. I am immensely grateful to Operation Eyesight for coming through for me.” – Anastasia  

Your support can help restore vision and hope for someone like Anastasia. By giving the Gift of Sight, you not only honour your loved ones, but also extend the spirit of compassion and generosity to someone across the world. 

Written with files from Dora Ewusi.

The post With sight restored, Anastasia reclaims her independence appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Here, we’ve helped more than 1.5 million people experiencing blindness or severe vision loss by partnering with government hospitals and other NGOs.

But help is only possible when families are aware of the services available to them…

Single mother Mary and her daughters Hannah, 10, and Lydia, 7, live together in Ghana in a modest plywood home. Due to the urgency of keeping her children safe from an abusive father, Mary didn’t recognize her daughters’ vision issues for quite some time.

Thankfully, her husband was eventually arrested and she and her daughters were finally safe, but Mary was left to care for the whole family with the sole financial support of her lime selling business.

No longer in danger, Mary noticed that Hannah and Lydia had a hard time seeing. They brought objects close to their faces to identify them, and teachers noticed their difficulty reading and the extra time it took each girl to complete simple tasks. Mary could not afford to take her daughters to see a doctor and sought help from several herbalists to no avail.

“Nothing was working, and I was worried that my children would live all their lives without having a proper view of the world,” Mary explains.

Mary had all but lost hope for her daughters when she noticed a sign for Watborg Eye Services, a secondary eye health facility we established. She took Hannah and Lydia there, and they were each diagnosed with bilateral cataracts and then promptly received surgery – at no cost to them, thanks to generous donors like you.

The two girls also needed prescription glasses, so they each picked out a pair and now wear them proudly at school, reading and writing with ease.

Mary is very grateful to Operation Eyesight and the staff at Watborg Eye Services. “I am now very confident that my children will have a better future,” says Mary. The two girls are also confident in their futures. “Since I can read well now, I know I will become the teacher I have always wished to be,” says Lydia. And for Hannah? “I will become a pilot,” she says.

Our unique approach empowers underserved communities in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa to address eye health care and, by consequence, whole person health care.

With your help, we can reach more families like Mary’s, in Ghana and in our other countries of work. We can ensure facilities are well known and easily accessible. With your support, we can transform lives and give children the opportunity to see a brighter future.

The post Surgeries and eyeglasses transformed their lives appeared first on Operation Eyesight.