Free eye surgery for World Sight Day
FOURWAYS– In honour of World Sight Day, 10 patients had their cataracts removed at Life Fourways Hospital.
On 15 October, the Life Fourways Hospital team welcomed and prepared 10 patients who desperately needed their sight repaired due to cataracts hampering their vision.
Right to Sight, which is part of a global initiative, is headed at Life Fourways Hospital by resident ophthalmic surgeon, Dr Dory Neu-Ner.
“These patients cannot afford this surgery, they don’t have the funds or medical aid to support them,” explained Neu-Ner.
As people get older, their lenses start to age and become cloudy, and cataracts can develop, which blurs their vision. “The result after undergoing this cataract removal procedure is dramatically improved vision within a week,” said Neu-Ner.
Violet Mdakane (88) said that she had been suffering from a cataract in her left eye for over three years. She expressed her gratitude by conveying how happy she was. “[Now I’ll be able to] read my bible without missing out any parts on the pages,” Mdakane said.
Benjamin Mbuzi (76) who works as a gardener, said that the condition of his left eye had deteriorated over time. It would go red, itch and water and this caused him to become isolated from those who did not understand anything about his condition. His spouse was excited as she believes that once the surgery has been done, this would ‘make him a new person’.
These are only but two of the many whose lives have been positively affected by this project.
The surgeries are sponsored by Life Healthcare Group’s community service initiative (CSI). Genop and Alcon assist in making this all possible with the free contribution of lenses and other consumables. This, coupled with Neu-Ner and his team who dedicate their time and resources, ensures the process is made possible in aid of World Sight Day, which was on 13 October.
