World Sight Day: Sam's new eyes

On World Sight Day, a marathon cataract operation returns the sight of twenty-one patients. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. 08/10/2009.

For Sam Ndimisana (a retired painter) this is the second time that he has had this operation. He had his left eye's cataract removed in May this year and now it is the turn of his right eye. Now he will be totally reliant on the artificial replacement lens that will take the place of his old cataract ridden eyes. Sam will gain sight in his right eye and full bi focal sight and depth perception too!

Edendale Hospital is a South African government hospital with the usual shortages of funds and facilities, but for the event of World sight day, a huge effort is made to help the patients' vision. The cost of the operation is about $500.00 per patient and it is the world's most efficient too.

Dr Mohammed Iqbal Rahmtoola is one of many registrar Ophthalmic surgeons training at the facility and he is at the end of the line of case finders and ophthalmic nurses who work in small rural clinics who will refer patients to this hospital. He and other doctors review each case and perform this life changing procedure.