Marister pensioner can see through both eyes again
Dr AJ Pienaar, the anesthetist, and Dr Charl Weitz, the ophthalmologist, performed the surgery on Jan and nine other patients.
After wearing glasses since the age of 16, life became even more difficult for Jan Venter, a pensioner who became blind in his left eye four years ago due to cataracts forming.
But this changed for the Marister Smallholding resident on July 9 when he received a free cataract removal surgery from the Benoni Eye Institute.
The glasses became ineffective when the cataracts formed in Jan’s eyes in 2013.
Despite a prior operation, the cataracts left him blind in his left eye four years ago.
Blurred vision interfered with Jan’s normal way of life as he was unable to read newspapers, drive or be in direct sunlight.
Due to his partial blindness, he was unable to work as an electrician and as a result, he became dependent on his pension as a form of income and the kindness of others to help him get around.
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The 64-year-old was selected to be one of the patients for the Unclouding Cataracts campaign which caters for over 80 people across Gauteng.
Jan is excited about being able to see again and equated the feeling to being “a child on Christmas day seeing a blue bike under the Christmas tree”.
Having his sight back will assist him in being employable and restore his sense of purpose as he believes it is important to keep busy.
Residents who suffer from severe cataracts and are unable to pay for the eye surgery can apply for the free operation at the eye institute.
The next free procedures are scheduled to take place in October and the waiting list is currently at 180 patients.
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