Lay was born severely visually impaired. But thankfully, her dream came true!

Lay was born with cataracts in both eyes. She is now 13 and the middle child of three. The family is poor and lives in a remote village in a mountainous region of Laos.

Will you grant my dearest wish for my sister Lay?

As a baby, toddler, preschooler, and now as a teenager, Lay’s vision gradually deteriorated until she could barely see anything. She often fell in the street and bumped into trees. She also struggled to keep her balance due to a physical disability in her feet. The long, bumpy road to school became increasingly dangerous.

Lay’s younger sister, Noy, took good care of her. They were inseparable. They walked to school hand in hand. Once in class, she couldn’t read the lessons the teacher wrote on the board. Her classmates teased her for her disability, and Lay became upset. She stopped going to school because of it.

Lay’s younger sister was very worried and hoped that Lay would be able to see again. That she could manage on her own and smile again. Fortunately, her wish was heard. The village chief announced that the Eye Care Foundation was organizing an eye screening near their village. Our ophthalmologist, Dr. Sformaat, examined Lay’s eyes and quickly confirmed the diagnosis: blindness due to congenital cataracts. After cataract surgery on both eyes, Lay will be able to see again!

A few weeks later, Dr. Sruim travels 80 kilometers to the remote village to pick Lay up himself. Lay receives a new lens in her right eye, which significantly improves her vision.

“Before the surgery, Lay could barely count her fingers in front of her eyes with her right eye, and she couldn’t see anything with her left eye. I’m happy that her vision has improved. Her left eye also needs surgery, but that may require more advanced equipment. Due to her foot problems, she needs both eyes,” says Dr. Sruim.

After the surgery, he drops her off back home. The whole family is overjoyed. Especially her younger sister!

Back to life with a smile.

Congenital cataracts and cataracts at a young age are devastating for a child. Without surgery, they lead to permanent blindness.

With your donation for cataract surgery, a whole new world opens up for a child like Lay: playing, learning, helping out at home. A life where she can face her future with a smile and go back to school. If Lay also sees with her other eye, her sister Noy’s dream will come true.

From birth, your vision gradually deteriorates until you are completely blind, and then the day after cataract surgery arrives… you open your eyes… and suddenly you see clearly… You can make that possible!