Rathnamma and Venkitaraman have been each other’s support ever since they migrated to Bangalore, India to work as construction labourers. Despite 40 years of hard work, the couple was only able to accumulate a small amount of savings. And that savings was quickly used after Venkitaram’s sight faded, until he eventually went blind. Without his additional income, the couple struggled every day. Rathnamma had no choice but to become the sole breadwinner for them both.

If that wasn’t already challenging enough, Rathnamma’s vision also started to fade. She feared a dark and difficult future if she lost her sight… If she went blind too, how would she and Venkitaram survive?

As her vision faded more and more, Rathnamma was forced to cut back at work, putting extra financial strain on her household.

Rathnamma knew she needed help. She wanted to go to one of the nearby hospitals to seek treatment, but she kept quiet for two years, worried she wouldn’t be able to afford the cost.  

Rathnamma was on the verge of losing her sight, and her hope for the future was running out.

But one day everything changed! Operation Eyesight-trained community health workers visited the family during a community outreach program. When they reached the couple’s home, they told Rathnamma they were there to screen the family for eye health issues. They immediately recognized that Rathnamma ‘s sight was fading, and they referred her to a vision centre where she was diagnosed with cataracts. From there, she was referred to our partner hospital for cataract surgeries – free of charge!

Soon after, Rathnamma underwent sight-restoring eye surgery. Today she is able to see clearly. Now she’s back at work and earning more to support her little family!

And that’s not all. Although Vankitaraman had incurable blindness, the community health workers taught him mobility skills to get around. They trained him to walk around with a long cane to navigate his surroundings. As a result, Venkitaraman no longer needs to sit idle at home. Today he takes care of the household chores while Rathnamma works outside.

And the health workers didn’t stop there. Knowing the couple was struggling financially, they helped them apply for disability pensions from the government. Now they have an additional income each month that takes the edge off their financial stress!

The couple remembers the community health workers fondly. Thanks to all the help they received, Venkitaraman and Rathnamma were able to escape a terrible fate, and they have hope for a brighter future. 

And it’s all because to people like you! Through the support of donors like you, we are able to bring sustainable changes to the lives of so many across South Asia and Africa. Thanks to you, thousands of families have access to the quality eye care services they need! There are still so many who need your help. Please make a donation and give the gift of hope to more families today.

The post Together from Darkness to Light appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

82-year-old Simiyu and his wife, Philomena, live in the agricultural town of Kitale, Kenya. They have five children, four daughters and a son, who live away from home.

Both Simiyu and Philomena struggled with deteriorating vision for years. Eventually, Simiyu went completely blind.

“I used to have a persistent headache,” says Simiyu. “ I couldn’t see at all and had to depend on my wife to guide me around. I’d be taken outside to bask in the sun and then taken back inside the house. I felt like a sheet being hanged outside to dry.”

The already struggling couple was suddenly facing a future bleaker than they had ever imagined. Philomena had very little vision left in her left eye, and she knew it was only a matter of time before she joined her husband in the dark world of blindness.

“I’m the one who was afflicted first. I suffered from visual impairment for three years before my husband became blind,” says Philomena. “I used to cry a lot. What would become of us when I lost my sight? I was the only breadwinner and I am my husband’s caretaker.”

Simiyu and Philomena were devastated. Their hope turned into despair. But they had no choice but to continue eking a living with the fast-dimming vision of their left eyes.

Finally, Simiyu went completely blind. He was forced to leave his casual work at a local dairy farm, cutting the couple off from half of their income.

In spite of this, every Sunday Philomena would take her husband’s hand and, with her precious remaining vision, guide them both to church.

Little did this couple know that their lives were about to get a whole light brighter.

One Sunday, medics from Kitale Eye Unit conducted a free eye screening at the local church. Simuyu and Philomena were present, and both were identified with cataract in their left eyes. In no time, they were booked for sight-restoring surgery at Kitale Eye Unit.

When the fateful day came, the Eye Unit car was sent to pick them up. Philomena took her husband’s hand as she had done so many times before. They were both optimistic but apprehensive of the outcome.

Thankfully, Bernard, a community health volunteer, did his best to reassure them that all would be well. They couldn’t have found someone better to calm their fears. After all, Bernard had been blind himself before having his sight restored with cataract surgery.

And so the couple underwent cataract surgery on the same day. After their surgery, a community health worker followed up with the couple to ensure they received quality post-op care.

Simiyu and Philomena’s eyes have healed, and now they can see clearly!

“We were so afraid,” says Philomena. “But you [Operation Eyesight] came to our rescue. I jumped with joy when both of us could see again!”

“Now I can see everywhere,” announces Simiyu with a smile. “I can now walk around on my own without any assistance.”

On her part, Philomena is already thinking about their next phase of life. She would like to save up to start a small business.

Simiyu agrees. “I would like to join my wife in starting a small business so we can become completely self-reliant,” he says.

All of this was made possible by compassionate people like you, who gave from their hearts so couples like Philomena and Simiyu could live with hope and dignity. Thank you so much!

There are thousands of other couples like Philomena and Simiyu who need your help. With Valentine’s Day approaching, why not show your love by giving the gift of sight to others? Your gift will change lives and give people hope for a happier brighter future. You can even send your sweetheart a Valentine’s Day eCard and give the gift of sight at the same time!

The post Thanks to you, this couple escaped despair appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

If you have a family of your own, whether you have kids or even grandkids, you might be thinking about how you can help support them today, tomorrow and in the future. For people like Prisila, the concern was being able to support her family while she’s still alive. But when her world went dark, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to help her family again.

Prisila is 76 years old and lives in a small village in India where most families make their living with farm work.

She’s a lively person whose age doesn’t stop her from caring for her family. Having lost her husband years ago, Prisila provided for her seven children – and then their children – all on her own, doing farm work and odd labor jobs.

“To me, family is everything,” says Prisila proudly.

But four years ago, Prisila’s world went dark.

She thought allergies were causing her blurry vision and hoped it would pass. Sadly, her vision faded until she couldn’t see at all. She didn’t know she could be treated, so Prisila didn’t seek help.

“I was so scared without my vision. I couldn’t care for my grandchildren anymore!”

But people like you changed Prisila’s life. Thanks to donor support, a community health worker was trained to go door-to-door in Prisila’s community to screen families for eye health issues. The health worker referred Prisila to a vision centre where she was diagnosed with cataract in both eyes. From there, she was referred to our partner hospital for surgery free of charge.

Thanks to compassionate people like you, Prisila can SEE again, and her independence has been restored! Today, she’s back to happily caring for her grandchildren.

There are thousands of families like Prisila’s who need your help. By leaving a gift to Operation Eyesight in your will, you can ensure that people like Prisila will receive the gift of sight even after you’re gone.

The post Your legacy gift could transform generations through the gift of sight! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

When his vision started to blur, Stenwell didn’t think much of it at first. He figured it was just a symptom of his age and a normal part of growing older.

But he became increasingly concerned as his vision deteriorated over the next three years. He realized something was very wrong, but with his family’s difficult financial situation, he knew he couldn’t afford to seek treatment. Without any options, Stenwell feared his blindness was a punishment from God.

This is where someone just like you stepped in to help. Thanks to our donors’ support, our partner, Bansara Eye Care, held an eye screening camp in Stenwell’s community. Operation Eyesight-trained  community health workers went out into the village to inform everyone that there would be an eye screening camp. They reached every household, including  Stenwell’s.

“When the health worker explained that I could get help for my condition, I was filled with new hope,” says Stenwell.

At the eye camp, Stenwell was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. He was told that two simple surgeries could restore his sight, and that the surgeries would be free of charge.

“I was anxious about the surgery, but the community health worker explained that the surgeries would be minor procedures that would help me see clearly again,” recalls Stenwell. “They were patient with me, and I felt I could trust them fully.”

For Stenwell, it was like magic to SEE again after receiving surgery. People like you made that possible! Stenwell was reached through our community eye health program and received the treatment he needed for free.

“I am extremely thankful to the people who helped me see again,” says Stenwell. “Coming from a humble family I never thought that I could get hope for my vision. Had it not been for the community health workers and the doctors of Bansara Eye Care, I could’ve gone blind permanently.”

Stenwell is now back to playing with his grandchild and helping his family with the farming, while taking time to garden when he wants to relax. His life has been transformed and he’s regained his independence, all because of our donors. Thank you!

There are thousands of people like Stenwell waiting for people like you to help restore their sight. YOU can change lives like Stenwell’s with a donation today!

The post People like you are making magic happen with the gift of sight! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.