Eye opening operations

Thirteen patients, blinded by cataracts, had their sight restored on Thursday receiving a life changing operation at Netcare Alberlito Hospital.
Once a year Dr Malcolm Carey, the only ophthalmologist at the hospital, selects a number of patients who could not otherwise afford the proceedure and performs the operations pro bono.
The delicate proceedure would normally cost in the region of R22 000.
Cataracts are very common, affecting roughly 60% of people over the age of 60.
“The waiting lists at government hospitals can take years, so we do what we can to help,” said Dr Carey.
Many of the patients cannot work as they have cataracts in both eyes.
“We can only remove one cateract per patient because of the huge demand but at least they will now have one good eye.”
Dr Carey explained that a cataract is an eye disease in which the normally clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy or opaque, causing decreased vision.
Using an operating microscope he removes the cataract and replaces it with an artificial lens.
“Alberlito Hospital sponsored the use of the operating theatre and my staff, and the companies Alcon Pharmaceuticals and Genop Healthcare sponsored all the materials used in the operations.”