Help a person battle blindness! Donate for a Cataract Operation!
India is home to about a third of the world’s cataract-affected population! Almost 50% of the blind people in India are blind because of a cataract. It is no wonder then that the earliest cataract surgery is known to have been developed by the Indian surgeon, Sushruta as early as 6th century B.C.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the lens of the eye, which varies in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructs the passage of light. Cataracts typically progress slowly to cause vision loss, and can cause blindness if untreated. The condition usually affects both the eyes, but almost always one eye is affected earlier than the other.
Since malnutrition and overexposure to ultra-violet rays are the primary reasons for cataracts, it most often affects those in lower economic classes, or manual laborers.
One of the commonly used brands of plastic lens
The plastic lens used in a cataract operation
What does a cataract operation involve?
The most effective and common treatment for a cataract is to make an incision into the cloudy lens to surgically remove it. The cataractous lens is removed and replaced with a plastic lens which stays in the eye permanently.
Cataract operations are usually performed using a local anesthetic and the patient is allowed to go home the same day.
A patient at the BPA Hospital
While cataract operations are commonly performed by several eye hospitals in India, the BPA hospital makes an effort to reach out to the lower socio-economic classes who, because of lack of resources, are unable to get their cataract treated in time.
The hospital has a team of dedicated and experienced eye surgeons who contribute their time and expertise in this noble cause.
The BPA Eye Hospital at Bareja, Gujarat
Dr. Ashish A. Divetia, an eye specialist, has been performing cataract operations at the BPA Hospital for the last 25 years!
How much does it cost?
For $30, the cataract operation at BPA’s hospital covers pre and post-operation procedures. The hospital also makes an effort to reach out to the beneficiaries directly by conducting eye-care awareness camps in remote areas of the state.
People treated at BPA hospital for cataracts.