60 benefit from free cataract surgery

At least 60 people with cataract eye disease, throughout the course of this week, underwent free surgery that ended yesterday. Cataract eye surgery is the removal of the natural lens of the eye that has developed an opacification which is referred to as a cataract. According to Lt.Col. Dr John Nkurikiye, an Ophthalmic Surgeon, 67% of blind people in Rwanda lost sight due to the disease. Hamim Rutayisire, one of the beneficiaries, runs a spare-parts shop in Gatsata. “I have had this eye problem for over six years. At some point I had almost completely lost my sight. This derailed my business which suffered losses since I wasn’t able to attend to it all the time due to my eye problems. Both my eyes have been operated upon and now I can see clearly,” Rutayisire narrated. Alexandre Kayoboke 28, who has had this disease since the age of 15, was very ecstatic for completely recovering his sight. “I can now resume my studies, get a job like other people and comfortably work using a computer now that I have regained my sight. I am grateful to the people who made this possible,” Kayoboke said. According to Dr Nkurikiye, there are about 50,000 blind people in the country, adding that some of this blindness can be cured through surgery. The free surgery is as an outreach service of the Rwanda Institute of Ophthalmology in collaboration with The Rwanda Military Hospital. maria.kaitesi@newtimes.co.rw