14-year-old Chhean is in the second grade. Since she was a baby, her family noticed that her eyes were cloudy, crossed and unfocused. As she grew, her poor vision left her struggling socially and academically, eventually dropping out of school altogether.
“They always bullied me because I couldn’t see or read, which made me not want to go to school anymore.
Chhean
Being poor, Chhean’s family couldn’t afford treatment for her. Her parents live and work in Thailand to send money home while Chhean lives with her grandparents in Cambodia’s Battambang Province.
“At first, I felt it was over for my daughter’s future. We’re poor, and if she couldn’t see, it would be terrible for her life.”
Rotha, Chhean’s mother
Chhean had cataracts and strabismus — or crossed eyes. Her conditions left Chhean with only about 10% of her eyesight. Without money to pay for treatment, Chhean went for years without help. But finally, at the recommendation of local doctors, Chhean came to AHC as her last hope.
Chhean’s visit to our eye clinic came with miraculous news. With surgery and glasses, she could regain much of her sight. And her family wouldn’t have to pay a thing.
“Before Chhean had surgery, the medical team explained everything about her condition to me. After the surgery, they took great care of her,” expressed Rotha. “I feel so lucky that we came to AHC for treatment. The way all the staff treated me and my daughter made me feel so warm and happy.”
Rotha, Chhean’s mother
The surgery completely healed Chhean’s cataracts. Our eye doctors then made her a pair of glasses with special prism lenses to correct her strabismus.
Our doctors will continue following up with her every three months. In the meantime, Chhean will go back to school and continue working toward her education — seeing clearly for the first time in 14 years.
“One day after her eye surgery, she said she could see people walking by. That made me so happy. All this magic happened thanks to AHC. Without AHC, there would’ve been no way to save my daughter’s sight.”
Rotha, Chhean’s mother