Cataract Surgery Camps

Cataracts are usually just a normal symptom of the ageing process. This is why they normally affect people who are aged 60 or over. A cataract is an opacification (clouding) of the natural lens inside the eye. If left untreated, it can cause blindness, but for the vast majority of people it is a condition that is easily rectified. In fact, it’s the most common surgery performed in the world today. But, this is something that people in villages are not aware of. They merely wonder why their vision is failing them.

There are many advantages that people can appreciate in their everyday life. For example, many people who have cataract surgery find that they no longer need to wear glasses. Some find they don’t need glasses to read, or have to wear glasses for distance vision. All find that they can reduce their dependency on glasses. MES depicts the benefits of cataract surgery through its camps and encourages the patients to undergo corrective surgery.

The benefits that the society informs the villagers of are:

• Suffering less from the glare of the sun or from headlights at night. 
• Cataract surgery has many lifestyle benefits – for reading, working, driving, playing sport and so on.
• Other advantages including more independence, improved self-confidence, better mental health, safety, a reduction in falls, a longer life expectancy and a greater enjoyment of social activities and passions like hobbies, sport, walking, driving etc. 
• Improved vision immeasurably enhances overall life satisfaction and enjoyment. 
• Importantly, there is no age at which people are “too old” to have cataract surgery as the visual benefits can be of value regardless of age. 
• Cataract surgery has been shown to be of value in those with other disabilities such as deafness and early dementia.

Once the villagers become aware of these aspects, they do not hesitate to take the benefit of this healthcare opportunity.