2021 Eye Surgery Sponsorships

At the beginning of 2021, Happy Healthy Us partnered with a charitable hospital by the name of Janta Sewa Hospital (Janta Sewa loosely translates to “public service”) in Varanasi, India to sponsor cataract surgeries for ten individuals (real names withheld for privacy reasons).

Ms. Nalini and her husband weave saris (traditional Indian dresses) and sell them to shop owners. Sari weaving is an art that requires tremendous skill and attention to detail. Ms. Nalini had been living with a progressively worsening cataract and was unable to afford corrective surgery. As her cataract developed, she could not keep up with her work and her home responsibilities. This resulted in a drop of income, causing financial hardship and stress. Soon after her corrective surgery, Ms. Nalini was able to return to her normal routine.

Mr. Dubey is a 64 year old auto-rickshaw driver. He earns a living for his family by driving his auto-rickshaw. Mr. Dubey had a cataract in his left eye, impairing his ability to see clearly and drive safely. He struggled daily with progressively worse vision, and eventually got to a point where it was impossible for him to drive. His cataract surgery gave him back his livelihood and allowed him to continue to take care of his family and put food on the table.

Ms. Munni, a 59 year old grandmother of 6 had cataracts in both eyes, making it impossible for her to take care of her grandchildren while her adult children worked on their village farm. Ms. Munni was having a very difficult time managing the house and taking care of the basic needs of her grandchildren. She even struggled with counting money for groceries, protecting herself from injury, and walking across the street safely. By getting cataract surgery through the minimally invasive FLACS laser procedure, Ms. Munni had a significantly shorter recovery time and was able to go back home to her family the same evening of her surgery.

Cataracts are one of the most common disorders in the world. Cataracts occur when the typically clear lens of the eye becomes clouded over; this creates a clouding of the vision that prevents a person from seeing properly.

Cataracts are usually treated by an invasive procedure wherein the surgeon physically makes incisions and removes the dysfunctional lens, replacing it with an artificial one. Recent advancements in medical technology have made laser-based cataract corrective surgery more accessible. Laser-based procedures like FLACS reduce recovery times and are more precise than the traditional procedures.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Happy Healthy Us was able to make a positive impact on these peoples’ lives by sponsoring their cataract surgeries, which they were not able to afford on their own.