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10-year-old bilaterally blind cataract patient
Location: Ethiopia
Organisation: Cure Blindness Project
For two years, ten-year-old Asma saw her world slowly fade into darkness. Cataracts in both eyes forced her to leave Grade 2, ending school and the simple joys of childhood. “She couldn’t even find things with her eyes,” her father, Mekasha, recalled. “She searched with her hands. It was heartbreaking for all of us.”
Determined to help his daughter, Mekasha traveled nearly 125 kilometers from Tenta Woreda to Boru Meda Hospital in Dessie after local health workers referred them there. Through the Cure Blindness Project outreach program, Asma was screened and later received life-changing surgery for bilateral cataracts. The operation restored sight to both of her eyes.
The change was immediate and unforgettable. Asma could finally see clearly again, walk with confidence, and smile without fear. For her father, it was the answer to countless prayers.
“Now she will continue her education and be happy,” Mekasha said with gratitude.
Today, Asma is looking ahead with hope. She can return to school, play with friends, and dream freely once more. What was once a future clouded by blindness is now filled with possibility.