Times of India
14 October 2010
By Anoop Jaipurkar
Pune, India

Vision impairment can be corrected if one takes early preventive steps. Three persons either suffered visual impairment and regained their eye sight, or nearly went blind talk about how they got back from the brink.

Sight Lost And Found
Kaushalya Sathe’s case is a glaring example of lack of health facilities in rural areas. The only daughter of a farmer couple from Akluj, Kaushalya was studying in the second year when she woke up with red, swollen eyes one day. "I could not see anything. I cried and when I went to the doctors, they told me that I would not be able to see anymore."

She came to the Pune School for the Blind in Kothrud. "The teachers gave me hope that I can do well even with my loss of sight. I enrolled for the four–year vocational training and learned to make handicrafts."

One day her principal Sulabha Pujari told her to undergo a surgery to get back her vision. "I was scared that this attempt may also fail. But my principal spoke to me and I underwent the surgery. Now, I can see with one eye and will soon undergo surgery for the other one. My doctor Saleem Pathan gave me back my sight," he said.

Kaushalya wants to go back to college and take up a job. "I have got another shot at life. Working with a good private company is my dream," she said.

Beating Glaucoma
Douglas Lee, a 73–year–old US citizen, has been a teacher in a Panchgani school for the last 22 years. An avid reader and a passionate photographer, Lee began to feel the strain in his eyes when as he grew older. "I would feel like a knife was digging into my eyes," he said. When the pain became unbearable, Lee visited an opthalmologist in Pune. "Nobody could diagnose my problem and asked me to use eyedrops. Meanwhile, my vision kept deteriorating. One day, a doctor suggested that I visit H V Desai eye hospital."

Lee was diagnosed with glaucoma with over 50 per cent damage to the optic nerves. The doctors suggested immediate surgery. "My right eye operated upon last Thursday and my doctors are confident that the vision will soon be restored.

Now, I tell people never to take their eyes for granted. Regular check–ups, sufficient sleep and good eyecare are necessary. Most importantly, avoid hypertension as it puts pressure on your eyes."

Vision At 69
Life has never been the same for 73–year–old chartered accountant L C Thakkar since he underwent eye surgery. "I almost lost my vision in childhood to small pox. It left me almost blind in the left eye and the visibility of the right eye was not more than 60 per cent. As the years went by, the weak left eye began putting pressure on the right eye," said Thakkar, who also has a deformity in the left leg since birth.

His parents took him to several doctors, but there was no proper diagnosis. "Some opthalmologists were not willing to take the risk while others advised me to accept my condition. In 2006, Dr Seema Jagdale suggested I undergo a corneal transplant. At 69, I was not keen on a surgery, but I relented and the operation was done for free. The next day, I could see well with my left eye," he said.

Thakkar said he felt young. "Life has got a new meaning for me. I urge people to donate their eyes. Your cornea could mean the world to someone." He also urged those with eye ailments to opt for early diagnosis.