Sight restored on World Sight Day
Twenty-one patients were given the gift of better sight at this year’s World Sight Day cataract operation marathon at Entabeni Hospital.
LIFE Entabeni Hospital commemorated World Eye Sight Day on 10 October, with theatre staff and opthalmic surgeons volunteering their services to perform free eye surgery on selected patients as their contribution towards this awareness day.
When Berea Mail visited the day clinic at 9am, Julianne Wolf day centre unit manager, said three patients had undergone the half hour surgery and were recovering well. “We look forward to this every year. It is our way of giving back to the community. The doctors are always eager for the day, and find their own patients for the operations. Staff contribute to each patient’s goodie bag as their way of giving back and we have also had wonderful sponsors,” she said.
Surgeons involved on the day were Dr Raymond Way, Dr Matt Young, Dr Brian Gundry and Dr Vanessa Thunstrom, and anaethetists were Dr Dave Gwynn, Dr Bruce Cloete and Dr Nick Brouckaert. The doctors performed five operations, with Dr Young taking on six this year, starting at 7am and going through to 6pm.
A patient waiting for her operation, Chunderwathie Maharaj, told Berea Mail she was going in for a left cataract extraction and implant with Dr Way.
“I’m very excited. This is my first cataract operation, and I have been battling with my sight, so this will be a relief for me,” she said.
Betty Edwards was all smiles following her operation on her left eye, and couldn’t say enough about the staff at the clinic.
“The team was fantastic. They were so nice to me, they were wonderful, they held my hand and made me feel relaxed. I never expected this, they guided me step by step through the operation so I knew what was happening,” she said.
Betty’s daughter, Charmaine Crundwell, said Betty had cataracts in both eyes and as she was a state pensioner, she had no medical aid.
“My neighbour recommended Dr Way to us. We went for an assessment in May to see what he had to say, and we were told the operation would cost R20 000, which we couldn’t afford. Mom was number seven on a list for the operation, and the doctors only do five each. However, three weeks ago we got the call to say mom could come in for the operation today,” she said.
“I am so excited, I can’t believe the spoiling I have received. I came in smiling and I’m leaving smiling! I wasn’t nervous before the operation and I am feeling fine now. I’m too chuffed, and I’m looking forward to having better eyesight!” said Betty.
