Gift of Sight |
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It is well known that in Sri Lanka total and partial blindness is quite high. The statistics are as follows :
Out of a population of around 19.3 million, approximately 83,000 individuals are blind in Sri Lanka, with cataract remaining the most common cause of blindness
Many elderly people living in rural areas do not have easy access to medical facilities particularly when it comes to improved sight resulting through cataract surgery. This is partly due to ignorance and partly due to poverty and difficult reach for medical attention.
The Government Health Service in Sri Lanka does not provide the lens required for cataract operation and the eye drops that are required following cataract surgery are also not available free. Therefore those cataract patients who can not afford to buy the lens and eye drops will continue to suffer from blindness. |
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The Rotary Club of Kandy as a pilot project undertook the following eye care camps and the results were simply amazing and demonstrated the urgent need to take this project onto a national platform.
We operate in remote areas where poor persons do not have access to be treated at the government hospitals. Furthermore, for cataract surgery the government hospitals have long waiting lists
There are so many poor persons living in rural areas all over the country which could benefit by this programme. At a comprehensive camp (type 1) about 200 - 300 persons would be screened. Most of them will receive spectacles and 10% of them will be provided with cataract surgery. The numbers vary depending on the location. Very dry and salty areas have a higher ratio of persons needing cataract surgery/spectacles while a location in Matale may have a much lower percentage.Before commencing an eye camp a 10 minute talk on "Rotary and its Purpose" is delivered to the gathering of beneficiaries. This ongoing project of giving sight to the sightless has been divided into 4 stages depending on the interest of various sponsors. |
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 Minimum of one eye camp a month in various parts of the country where poor patients are screened . Those who require spectacles are given used spectacles on the same day or custom made ones within 6-8 weeks from the date of the camp and those who require cataract surgeries will be transported to
Colombo / Kandy and surgery will be performed within 6 weeks. A follow up check will be done after a week to ensure that the health condition of the eye is ok.
Cost per camp will vary between US$ 2400 to US$ 3000 depending on the number of patients who require cataract surgeries and glasses. |
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To support only the cataract surgeries of patients [ Inclusive of medicines, food, lodging & ransport cost].
Cost per surgery – US$ 65 [ inclusive of patients medicines, transportation ,food lodging until discharge] |
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To support the eye glasses processing only US$5 –US$7 per person depending on the glass recommended |
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To sponsor a brand new custom spectacle with frame – US$10
You may chose any of the above case to support this worthy cause of giving sight to the sightless. Should you require any further clarification on the above please do not hesitate to email us.
In addition to the above you can even donate your old glasses as these will be cleaned and donated to the needy in the remote villages of our island. All types of eyeglasses are needed. Exceptionally strong and weak prescriptions are in high demand. Prescription, non-prescription, and reading glasses are accepted. Sunglasses are also needed, especially or those who have cataracts. Give the gift of sight! We expect to continue this project until all the patients in Sri Lanka with cataract who can not afford to buy the lens and medication are operated on. |
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