Organisation: Cure Blindness Project
Location: India

Sushil Kumar Sen, 47, is a driver from a rural district in Odisha, India. Life was simple and steady with his wife and children — until cataracts blurred his vision and forced him off the road. Unable to work, he relied on his wife for everything, and the loss of independence left him feeling helpless. 

Then he heard about a free eye screening camp run by Trilochan Netralaya, a state-of-the-art institute committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate eye care.  

Holding on to hope, Sushil went. Staff identified him with mature cataracts in both eyes — and told him his vision could be restored through surgery, entirely free of cost. Cure Blindness Project works with Trilochan Netralaya and partners like them to offset surgery costs to expand access to care for those who need it most. 

The next day, he underwent his first surgery. When the bandage came off, Sushil could see again. Fifteen days later, he returned for the second surgery — and with it, the rest of his world came back into focus. 

Today, he’s back behind the wheel, working again, and living with pride and deep gratitude.