In 2005, SAP-VN launched the Cataract Surgery Program to provide free surgeries to needy cataract patients in remote rural areas in Vietnam. The first cataract surgery trip was organized in early November with a team of 4 ophthalmologists and more than 20 volunteers from overseas, mostly from the US. Within a week of working with ophthalmologists and staff at Charity Eye Hospital in Saigon, the team performed 179 cataract surgeries on patients from the Saigon outskirts and Phan Rang, Lam Dong, Tra Vinh, Dong Nai and Soc Trang provinces.

In late November, a smaller team of ophthalmologists and volunteers traveled to An Giang province to work with local ophthalmologists and staff at Binh Dan Hospital to provide surgery to 59 cataract patients. Most of the patients in An Giang were pre-screened during SAP-VN Mobile Care trip in late October. In December, the same team returned to An Giang to continue providing surgery to 57 more patients, bringing the total number of patients who had received cataract surgery through SAP-VN’s sponsorship in 2005 to 295.

With the success of the Cataract Surgery Program in 2005, our goal in the coming years is to expand this program to reach many more cataract patients. In order to achieve this goal, we are continuing to seek additional funding. With an average cost of less than 50 USD per eye surgery, you are able to give the precious gift of sight to a cataract patient, who otherwise would have no access to medical care and treatment. If you would like to make a donation, please make checks payable to "SAP-VN", memo "Cataract Surgery" and send to:

SAP-VN
12881 Knott Street, Suite 116
Garden Grove, CA 92841