Gift of Sight

A cataract operation can be life changing. After an operation lasting just a few minutes, someone who thought they would never see again can regain their sight and their independence. For Pusaram Khuloga from Rajasthan, his loss of sight through cataracts had meant he could no longer work to support himself, and was too frightened to leave his house alone. His sight restoring operation, costing just £17 has given him joy and optimism for the future.

This gift could help someone in the developing world to see again.

See your gift in action

Josephine Same from Cameroon lost her sight gradually to cataracts, first in one eye, then the other. She was blind for a year before she was diagnosed with cataract by an ophthalmic team who were visiting her village.

Losing her sight had meant that Josephine could no longer work with her husband on the farm. Their income decreased and it was very difficult to cope. Without the help of her husband or friend, Josephine could do virtually nothing about the home. Four of her five children went to live with her sister as she could not care for them without her sight.

Three days after diagnosis, Josephine travelled to a special eye unit for a cataract operation on her first eye. The second eye was operated on a week later. With her sight restored, Josephine is able to work again and prepare food herself, and she says it is good to be able to see what she is eating once more. She's also repaying the generosity of her friend Emilia, who helped her out at home when she was blind. Josephine now helps with Emilia's children and household chores.