Lens Transplants for Cataracts
Introduction:
Cataracts is a very common eye disease worldwide. Cataracts form when there is a buildup of protein in the lens, and when they are not treated in time, it may lead to blindness.
This disease often develops at an old age, as the lens ages, if you have high myopia, long exposure to sunlight, diseases like diabetes or can sometimes be a genetic defect, which means you can get it at birth etc.
In Hong Kong, more than 50,000 patients are on waiting lists for cataract operations at Hospital Authority hospitals alone, which the average time for waiting can last up to two to five years. Over 40,000 of them are aged over 71 years old. Around 14% of people in Hong Kong between the ages 36 and 45 have
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When they develop this diseases, they wouldn’t have enough money to pay for the surgical procedure, let alone 3 meals a day. As they cannot afford this service, more and more people living in poverty develop cataracts and leave them blind for the rest of their lives. For example, the cost of lens transplants are about $8,000 HKD per eye in HK, which $5,000 is for government subsidy and top up the rest by the patience if they cannot wait 2-5 years to have the transplants at government hospitals.
Patients that have cataracts can develop anxiety and depression. Research has shown after undergoing cataract surgery allows the person to improve self confidence, reduces falls, and better mental health. People will regain much more self esteem because others stop labelling them as the ‘disabled’.
The family’s economic status will improve, as the person can now go to work and earn money for the family. The person will also suffer less from the sun or headlights in the night - which can allow them to drive once again.