Cataracts are a serious issue in Vietnam. According to a 2011 study in the journal BMC Opthamology:
Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in Vietnam, affecting 87.6 new cases per 100,000 each year and causing approximately 65% of all blindness. There is currently a very high prevalence of blindness, affecting 4,304 people per 100,000. Of even more concern is the staggering numbers who are living with low vision, approximately 18,086 people per 100,000, much of which is caused by untreated cataract.
The good news is that cataracts can be treated through a relatively simple procedure. The bad news is that the cost of a procedure, which hovers around $350 – $400 in Vietnam, can be far too expensive for many poor patients. Recognizing the need and realizing that this is a fixable situation, VNHELP decided to initiate the Vision for the Poor program in 2007 to sponsor free cataract surgeries for low-income patients across Vietnam. We also established a matching fund, where we meet donations of $5000 and above, to encourage donors to give to the program.
We’ve continued the program ever since, and we’re proud to report that the program had far reaching impact during the 2011 – 2012 project cycle. With support from a number of donors and foundations, we were able to provide operations to 1194 patients during surgical missions in Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Long An, Thua Thien Hue, and Nam Dinh provinces as of September 2012. Check out the breakdown by location below:
| Province | Number of Patients |
| Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria Vung Tau | 241 |
| Long An | 500 |
| Thua Thien Hue | 400 |
| Nam Dinh | 53* |
| Total | 1194 |
*Nam Dinh mission was ongoing as of September 2012.
Check out some of the photos as well. To view even more, visit our gallery page.
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With their site restored, many of these patients regain a sense of self-sufficiency. The elderly patients can feel as if they are no longer a burden or fully dependent on their families, and the younger patients can work towards new life goals again. Yet, despite the reach of our projects this cycle, the demand for surgeries remains high. We still have long waiting lists of patients in many provinces, and we aim to get to all of them. If you’d like to learn more about Vision for the Poor or the matching fund opportunity, please don’t hesitate to contact us!