Patient stories: Denzil can move forward with his life after cataract surgery
According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness over 1.1 million people suffer from vision loss in the Caribbean, with cataract accounting for 50% of this.
It’s not all bad news! With access to the right type of care, blindness due to cataract is entirely reversible.
So when our Flying Eye Hospital returned to Jamaica for a 19-day ophthalmic training program, 73-year-old cataract patient Denzil was one of the 110 clinical cases referred to our volunteer eye doctors for treatment.
However for Denzil - it was difficult to get the eye care he needed. Denzil told us: “I applied to all the government programs to get my eyes looked after. I was registered and told that I would be called in the next nine months which lapsed to nearly one year. Nobody called.”
After a manual small incision cataract operation on board our aircraft Denzil left our Flying Eye Hospital beaming with joy and reaching for the sky.
His joy extended into the next morning at University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) while he waited for his post-operative exam.
With his sight significantly improved, Denzil sang Harry Belafonte’s song ‘Jamaica Farewell’ to his fellow cataract and glaucoma patients waiting in line.
Now that he has his vision back, Denzil said he looks forward to reading signs, being able to see electrical components and circuit boards. The little things we may take for granted.
He added: “Getting 100% vision, well, that’s very good. It appeals to me.”
It’s all thanks to the generosity of our incredible supporters, amazing partners and volunteers who give up their valuable time that Denzil can now enjoy a better quality of life.
He hopes that more people can show kindness and help financially burdened people suffering with vision loss so they can get the care and treatment they urgently need.
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