Help change the story for children with cataracts

Seven-year-old Luyando faced a bleak future because she had been born with cataracts.

When we met Luyando, she struggled to see the chalkboard at school and was vulnerable to isolation and bullying. Her mother, Martha, knew exactly what Luyando was going through, as she had been born with cataracts too.

While they are often associated with older people, cataracts cause more than 15% of childhood blindness. Children like Luyando can suffer them from birth, and early intervention is crucial. Otherwise, the links between a child’s brain and their eyes will never properly develop, which can lead to irreversible blindness.

With support from our partners and Sightsavers’ supporters, Luyando’s story took a different turn. Along with her sister Abigail, she has now received an operation to remove her cataracts and restore her sight. The moment Luyando’s bandages were removed, her life changed forever. She can now make the most of her childhood, learning at school and playing with her friends.

Across Zambia, more than 6,000 children are blind because of cataracts. Our projects aim to diagnose children in remote communities and help them access life-changing treatments. With your help, we can reach even more children before it’s too late. Will you help change the story for more children like Luyando?