Sight restored and a life regained

Josephine Same lost her sight gradually to cataracts. She was blind for a year before she was diagnosed with cataract by an ophthalmic team who were visiting her village.

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. 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.

A clearer future for Manoj

Manoj Kumar from Pakistan was six years old when he had his severe short sightedness corrected with a pair of glasses. He had been suffering from severe headaches for two years and was unable to focus on his schoolwork.

Manoj’s father took him to the local primary eye care centre, established by a Sightsavers partner. Here his short sightedness was diagnosed and he was referred to a hospital 50kms away for treatment. Once a month, a bus visits villages to transport patients to the hospital. After getting his new glasses, Manoj’s headaches have gone and he has gone back to school. He felt a little embarrassed at first because having glasses made him feel different. But now, with the support of his family, teachers and friends he wears them with confidence and can get on much better in class.