Cataract Project

Cataract is a common cause of blindness in the old age. As a part of a national health screening project introduced by the Department of Health in Sri Lanka, to detect undiagnosed or untreated major illness/ disease, a large number of cataract patients are being identified.

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.

Medical Aid has started a major Cataract surgery project with the support of the local volunteer eye specialists, by financing the lenses and post operative drugs, so that these blind people can see again. Cost per patient is approximately £27 and so far we have helped over 800 patients to see again.

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 and we are currently collaborating with groups in Sydney, Australia to fund more operations. Our next stop is Anuradhapura

Please help us to help thousands of poor people to get their sight back..

Past memories ....
2nd group of cataract surgical patients from Galagamuwa

Here is what our eye surgeon from Sri Lanka Dr Weerakoon who gave his time free to this project had to say.. “All the post operative patients of the second lot were ok and they are happy and I am happy too. I examined them yesterday (26th) at Galgamuwa and some of them were in tears due to happiness of regaining vision back”.

“One lady said she did not see her husband's face for two years and she came with her husband and thanked me. Another patient said he saw light after one  year. In Sinhala he said "Mahaththayo mama awuruddak kana wela hitiye, dan mata thaniyama mage weda karaganna puluwan, mahaththayata budu bawa labei". [Translation: “Sir, I was blind before. Now I can get on with life. You will attain  ‘Lord Buddhaship’ (meaning the doctor may attain the highest position according to Buddhist belief - similar to saying “May you go to heaven”)]

Most of the patients handed over thanks giving letters to me and I want to keep those as souvenirs. I will give photo copies of the letters to Upali so he can post it to you. Upali was also there in the examining room throughout and  you can ask the details from him over the phone.

In short Galgamuwa Eye Camp was a camp with 100% success rate. Every thing was well arranged and organised and outcome was also good.”

Thank you Dr Weerakoon for all your hard work.

Here some protographs of the first group of patients operated on. (Photos by Dr Weerakoon)

Above: Second batch of operated patients with Dr Weerakoon (Consultant Eye surgeon) and
Dr Upali Sirimanna (District Medical Officer, Galgamuwa and Chief LOcal Organiser of the project)

Below: Photos of the first group of patients from Galgamuwa who had cataract surgery: All these patients were operated by Dr Weerakoon, our volunteer Consultant Eye surgeon, after having screened them in Galgamuwa.

Below: Following cataract surgery

It costs only £27 for one patient to have cataract surgery - you can fund a number of patient’s to have surgery and we will provide you with the named and contact details of patients who benefitted.

We wish to thank Dr Weerakoon who gave his time and expertise free and also the authorities at the Puttlam Government Hospital for  allowing the project to take place

Here are some of the photos from Dambulla cataract project

If you contribute by funding surgery for more than 10 patients (£25 per patient) we will supply the names and contact details of those who had surgery with your money at your request