A cataract is an opaque clouding that develops on the lens of the eye and obstructs the passage of light resulting in partial or complete loss of sight. Metabolic changes in lens fibers generally lead to the development of cataract and loss of transparency causing impairment or loss of vision. Cataract is an important cause of blindness and cataract surgery is one of the most cost-effective health care interventions. A simple surgery and insertion of an intraocular lens can result in immediate visual rehabilitation and bring back the lost vision.

Although cataract operation, in most countries, is done at comparatively affordable cost, for some people even that nominal cost becomes a burden. In third world countries many people with cataract are unable to undergo surgery primarily due to poverty and partly due to lack of awareness and infrastructure. However, in most cases financial crisis continues to be the major reason for the cataract blinds for not undergoing a surgery. As a result, cataract blind people who are financially unable to bear the cost remain blind throughout their lives leading a painful life.

Many non-profit organizations today are coming forward to provide assistance, support and services in areas of health, education and environment to the economically disadvantaged people in third world countries who have very little access to health care facilities. Local health centers play major role in assisting these nonprofit organizations to conduct their health care programs for the needy and underprivileged. These health centers with the help of the nonprofit organizations conduct medical camps like cataract surgery camps, cleft lip surgery camps and family welfare programs to treat the poor free of cost.

The most successful among these health camps are the \’cataract surgery camps\’, where cataract blind patients from remote villages undergo cataract surgery, including lens implant, by experienced eye surgeons for absolutely free. At these camps patients are first screened and examined for cataracts. Patients with acute problems are then taken to the hospital where they undergo the cataract operation and get lens implanted accordingly. They are generally kept under observation for two to three days after the operation. The post-operative care is very important in case of cataract operation and expert care is required in order to make the surgery successful. This is why the attendants at cataract surgery camps are all well-trained and well-aware of the immediate post-operative care that patients require. A cataract surgery camp also includes weekly post-operative checkups, where patients are provided with thorough examination and free glasses.

These non-profit organizations and health centers make sure that the treatment they provide achieve positive results in maximum cases. They believe, the more successful the results are the more response they would get from the mass. If the treatment experience is good, patients will go on spreading the good word and influence others with cataract problems to undergo similar operations.

Health care centers have the ability to offer their services to large number of people requiring cataract treatment by training sufficient people as ophthalmic staff. Ophthalmic nurses are trained to help doctors in the cataract surgery, manage eye-care services and supervise eye-care workers.

The non-profit organizations and the growing health centers with their tremendous efforts have been successful in bringing back vision in the lives of the poor and disabled. The importance of a cataract surgery camp is that it not only brings social and financial benefit to the community, but also brings an all-inclusive eye-care service to the people in the area. The charitable and philanthropic undertakings of non-profit organizations have been a commendable in bringing back smile on the faces of thousands of people.

Author Bio: Tahmina Sultan Touching Souls International http://www.touchingsoulsintl.org http://touchingsoulsintl.org/blog Touching Souls International(TSI) is a New York based non profit organization providing charity in health, education and safe environment for economically disadvantaged of Bangladesh. It conducts regular camps and supports patients for free cataract removal surgery, cleft lip surgery, club foot surgery, artificial limb, palliative care, mother and child health. http://www.touchingsoulsintl.org http://touchingsoulsintl.org/blog

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: