Adult cataract operation
A World Sight day event at the Kolkata child eye care project
£30
Sightsavers began working in India in 1966 and four years later launched the ‘Eyes of India’ campaign to provide mass cataract surgery. Since then, in partnership with hundreds of local organisations, Sightsavers has supported more than three million cataract operations, helped treat over 20 million eye patients and brought eye care to some of the least-served areas of the country.
In addition, many thousands of irreversibly blind people have received rehabilitation and educational support to enable them to lead lives of independence and dignity.
Your gift will help to continue our work in India and could help provide:
- Cataract surgery, restoring sight to people in some of the poorest areas
- Training and education for people who are visually impaired or blind, giving them an opportunity to lead independent lives
- Screening in schools and clinics
- Screening and surgery for diabetic retinopathy
Country gift:
The gift you’ve been given can bring a brighter future to some of the poorest people in India. Thank you.
See your gift in action
Ten year old Anuj lives with his parents in Goyana village, Uttar Pradesh, along with his five brothers and sisters. After a high fever at the age of five, Anuj’s vision started deteriorating and he eventually developed cataracts in both of his eyes. Anuj explained:
‘I was admitted to the primary school when I was six. My performance at school was very poor and I was unable to concentrate on my studies. I became confined in my home and I was cut off from society. I was considered as blind in the village and couldn’t play with the children of similar age groups and hadn’t learnt how to read or write.’
The Sightsavers supported community based rehabilitation programme visited Anuj’s school and screened all the children, which is when field workers identified that Anuj had bilateral cataract. Anuj was referred to the hospital where he had an operation on each eye to restore his sight.
‘My life has changed so much now I can see’, explained Anuj, ‘I can play with my friends, I’m doing very well in school and I can help my mother with the housework. I feel confident and find myself a part of the society.’