Today we received this story -- one of many from a Seva eye camp in Nepal -- courtesy of our wonderful Program Director for Nepal, Mr. Ram Prasad Kandel. It's the story of a 62-year-old man named Prem who was blind. His vision in both eyes was less than the lowest measurable scale of 20/200. Prem’s wife died many years ago and he has no immediate family members.

Prem prior to his sight-restoring cataract surgeries

He has no home or land and he has survived by working for one of his extended family in exchange for room and food. Prem’s main job was looking after the cows. However, over the last three years, Prem’s vision deteriorated and eventually he was unable to follow the cows into their pasture. Although Prem repeatedly asked his relatives to help him seek eye care, they ignored his requests. A few days ago, someone informed him about the Seva eye camp in the town of Bijuwar in Pyuthan District, located in the middle hills of western Nepal. Prem immediately travelled to the eye camp site. His enthusiasm was so great that he reached the camp four days prior to its opening. Mr. Narendra, who had donated the land for the Seva-supported Primary Eye Care Centre in Pyuthan, kindly arranged for Prem’s accommodation and food while he waited for the eye camp. At the eye camp, Prem had cataract surgery on both eyes with excellent results. His vision in both eyes is now 20/40 – a huge improvement. Prem was very happy with the eye camp team and he is now smiling all the time.

Prem, all smiles, after his sight was restored by Seva