By DR CHRISTOPHER LYON | MEDICAL DIRECTOR, THE BLINDNESS FOUNDATION
THE BLINDNESS FOUNDATION has been invited back to Cambodia again this year to help treat blindness and, in some cases , such as cataract blindness , actually cure it, through cataract surgery with donated lens implants.
Many lay people confuse a cataract with a "film over the eye", when in reality , a cataract is the eye's own lens which opacifies with ageing. This then has to be removed through meticulous disassembly, taking exquisite care not to damage the internal structures of the eye, using special (donated ) medical supplies and delicate surgery.
The eye's natural lens is then replaced with a (donated ) artificial plastic one of the correct power to minimize the need for (expensive ) eyeglasses after the surgery. Keeping everything clean and disease-free means careful attention to strict operating room cleanliness andf procedures.
This also provides local employment, thus income to local nurses , technicians and local Eye Doctors, strengthening their economy and improving quality of life for all concerning , especially the happy patients. With removal of their cataracts, oncemore can the patients become sustainable contributors to their own village and society in general.
Ageing of the lens fibres is often premature in developing countries , due to poor nutririon and stronger UV rays from the sun, found nearer the equator.
This years training and education will thus focus on the factors that accelaerate ageinig , particularly diabetes , which promotes both cataract development and bleeding in the back of the eye, the retina. Nurses and Doctors will be trained in the risk factors for premature ageing, with guidelines on how best to help their local populations, and reduce the prevalence of these diseases.
Your help truly does make a difference in helping the third world populations improve their lives and enjoy the fun of living with good vision again- Thank You.
DR CHRISTOPHER LYON
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