A Gift of Sight

Cataract is one of the most common causes of blindness that affect many elderly people in Vietnam. It can be safely treated with surgery to restore sight and improve the quality of life of those who suffer from this condition. However, many elderly people in Vietnam cannot afford the cost of cataract surgery, which averages about $60, and therefore suffer from loss of sight as a consequence.

In response to this need, SAP-VN began the cataract surgery program in 2005 with the goal of providing the ‘gift of sight’ to the poor and elderly population in Vietnam who could not otherwise afford this surgery. SAP-VN established collaborations with ophthalmologists and hospitals in Vietnam to pilot the project in the first few years. After assessing where the needs are high, we entered into partnership with the Can Tho Eye & Oromaxillofacial Hospital, who perform all the surgeries and we sponsor all the costs associated with the procedures. Our associates in Vietnam work with local health officials to identify areas with high incidences of cataract and arrange for screenings of possible candidates to receive the cataract surgeries.

cataract1
cataract1
cataract2
cataract2
cataract3
cataract3
cataract4
cataract4
cataract5
cataract5
cataract6
cataract6
cataract7
cataract7
cataract8
cataract8

 

 


 

Cataract Patients
Year Locations Number  of Patients
2005 An Giang, various provinces                                      295
2006 An Giang, Bạc Liêu, Thanh  Hóa,                                      302
2007 An Giang, Bạc Liêu, Vĩnh Long                                      742
2008 Bạc Liêu, Hậu Giang, Vĩnh Long, Sóc Trăng, Quảng Nam                                      723
2009 Bạc Liêu,  Cà Mau, Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng, Trà Vinh, Vĩnh Long                                      997
2010 Bạc Liêu,  Cà Mau, Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng, Trà Vinh, Vĩnh Long                                   1,113
2011 Bạc Liêu,  Cà Mau, Cần Thơ, Hậu Giang, Trà Vinh, Vĩnh Long                                   1,070
2012 Bạc Liêu,  Cà Mau,  Cần Thơ, Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng, Vĩnh Long                                   1,206
2013 Bạc Liêu,  Cà Mau,  Cần Thơ, Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng, Vĩnh Long                                   1,310
2014 Bạc Liêu,  Cà Mau,  Cần Thơ, Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng                                   1,409
2015 Bạc Liêu,  Cà Mau,  Cần Thơ, Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng                                   1,400
2016 Bạc Liêu,  Cà Mau,  Cần Thơ, Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng                                      977
2017 Cần Thơ, Trà Vinh                                      870
2018 Cần Thơ, Trà Vinh                                      396
2019 Cần Thơ,  Khành Hòa, Quảng Nam                                      291
2020 Cần Thơ, Khành Hòa                                      425
2021 Cần Thơ, Khành Hòa                                      315
2022 Cần Thơ, Khành Hòa, Sài Gòn                                      547
2023 Cần Thơ, Khành Hòa, Sài Gòn                                      661
2024 Cần Thơ,  Quang Nam, Sài Gòn                                   1,001
2025  Cần Thơ, Sài Gòn                                      525
     
                                    16,575