Cataract surgery apparently reduces the number of car crashes, according to research presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Middle East–Africa Council of Ophthalmology joint meeting. Dr. Jonathan Ng, researcher at the University of Western Australia, studied the accident rate among 27,787 patients aged 60 or over before and after cataract surgery on one eye. “We found cataract surgery reduced the frequency of all crashes by 12.6%” and the cost savings from this reduction amounted to over $4 million, said Dr. Ng. In Australia, as in many countries, people have to wait weeks or months to receive cataract surgery. This study argues that this delay significantly impacts not only patients’ quality of life, but public safety and healthcare. In Canada in 2008, 75% of patient had cataract surgery within 16 weeks in all provinces, except Nova Scotia and Alberta, according to data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. In places where Seva works, our patients do not drive cars. However, we have heard many stories over the years of accidents caused by cataracts. Penny Lyons, Seva's Executive Director, met a young boy in Tibet who was blinded by cataracts. His parents were nomads and left him alone each day in their tent so that they could tend to their animals. Penny says that little Tashi was covered with little scars from crashing into things. One story I'll always remember is of Deyang, a 75-year-old Tibetan woman who was blind from cataracts. When Deyang became blind she had no one to look after her. Luckily a nearby monastery took her in and fed and housed her for her three years of total darkness. But life was still extremely hard, as she was mostly on her own. “There were times when I had to relieve myself in my room because I didn’t even know where my door was,” Deyang said. “And… there was a time when I bumped my head against the wall very hard and my head remained so swollen that my hat didn’t even fit my head for a month.”

Deyang after cataract surgery from Seva

Deyang received bilateral cataract surgery at a Seva-sponsored eye camp. This photo was taken of her taking her first steps unaided for years. Sources: http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Cataract-Surgery-Saves-Lives-Dollars-by-Reducing-Auto-Crashes-1337403.htm