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Success! Naw Klee from Thailand raised $1,500 to fund cataract surgery so that she can see well again.

Naw Klee
100%
  • $1,500 raised, $0 to go
$1,500
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Naw Klee's treatment was fully funded on December 29, 2022.
December 7, 2022

Naw Klee is a 75-year-old woman who lives alone in a refugee camp. She receives 364 baht (approx. $12) every month from an organization called The Border Consortium. She also receives free basic health care in the refugee camp provided by Malteser International (MI) Thailand.

Currently, Naw Klee’s right eye is sensitive to light and will water and hurt whenever she opens her eye. The vision in both of her eyes is blurry, though the vision in her right eye is worse. Because of her poor vision, she cannot cook or carry water, so she has to eat with her nephew’s family. When she walks to his house, she has to use a walking stick to make sure she does not trip over uneven ground. She also cannot go to church every Sunday, because she needs someone to go with her and guide her.

Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Naw Klee. On December 8th, doctors will perform a surgery to remove Naw Klee’s natural lens and replace it with an intraocular lens implant. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly and she needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure.

Naw Klee says, “After I receive surgery, I want to be able to cook for myself, to weave (traditional) Karen clothes again, to earn money, and I want to be able to go to church by myself.”

Naw Klee is a 75-year-old woman who lives alone in a refugee camp. She receives 364 baht (approx. $12) every month from an organization call...

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Naw Klee's Timeline

  • December 7, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Naw Klee was submitted by Bue Wah Say, Project Officer at Burma Children Medical Fund.

  • December 8, 2022
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Naw Klee was scheduled to receive treatment at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital in Thailand. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • December 9, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Naw Klee's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • December 29, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Naw Klee's treatment was fully funded.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Naw Klee's treatment update from Burma Children Medical Fund.

Funded by 17 donors

Funded by 17 donors

Treatment
Lens Replacement
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $4,154 for Naw Klee's treatment
Subsidies fund $2,654 and Watsi raises the remaining $1,500
Hospital Fees
$1,597
Medical Staff
$501
Medication
$186
Supplies
$1,020
Travel
$478
Labs
$30
Other
$342
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients may experience blurred or dim vision, shadows or blind spots in the field of vision, sensitivity to light and glare, and double vision.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Reduced vision can result in social isolation, depression, increased risk of falling and accidents, and ultimately a greater tendency to be disabled. Without surgery, the patient will have no choice but to live with end-stage ocular disease, often resulting in blindness or pain.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

The healthcare system in Burma does not permit the average citizen to receive proper eye examinations. This lack of attention to ocular health is due to a variety of reasons. However, a low optometrist-to-population ratio and insufficient funds are the leading causes.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Surgery will only be performed if the pressure in the eye is stable. The time it takes to stabilize the pressure in the eye depends on the severity of damage to the eye.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

The patient will regain his or her vision, though it may not be perfectly clear. Fortunately, the surgery prevents a complete loss of vision.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Potential side effects include bleeding, infection, scarring, persistent swelling, wound separation, and the need to undergo additional surgery.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Burma has 309 ophthalmologists and 150 eye nurses. Fewer than half of the ophthalmologists perform surgery, and almost two-thirds confine their practice to the cities of Yangon (with a population of about six million) and Mandalay (about three million), where many people have the financial capacity to meet high out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Aside from these main facilities, there is roughly one ophthalmologist for every 500,000 people, and eye health screening and treatment for children and adults is neither comprehensive nor consistent.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no alternatives. If left untreated, the patient will eventually lose his or her vision completely.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.