October 10, 2000
Sight for sore eyes Dr Vaew-wan Chirachon checks Charoon Chuensuwan's left eye after he underwent cataract surgery a few days earlier. Thanks to the "Clear Eyesight For the Elderly" project launched by Queen Sawangwattana Hospital, several hundreds of cataract patients can now enjoy the colourful world as before. A charitable project founded by Prof Dr Chaivej Nuchprayoon of Queen Sawangwattana Memorial Hospital, Chon Buri, has given new life to the old when they thought that all was lost Story By Chompoo Trakullertsathien Pictures by SOMKID CHAIJITVANIT This month, Charoon Chuensuwan received the most precious gift that he would not trade for the world-the gift of sight. "I just got my sharp, clear eyesight back after suffering the chronic cataracts for two years," Charoon, 70, said with joy, during his convalescence at Queen Sawangwattana Memorial Hospital in Chon Buri province. Due to poverty, Charoon couldn't afford the expensive cataract surgery which costs about 20,000 to 40,000 baht. He then resorted to the simplest yet most harmful way. By focussing on things with his right eye, Charoon heavily and forcefully uses on his right eye which serves as his "secondary sight". And it tortured the old man. "The cataract threatened and damaged my sight in the left eye. I couldn't see things in sharp focus. The myopic condition kept me in pain for two years. I couldn't even go to see the doctor because I had no money to pay for the eye surgery," the uncle recalled. But before the cataract permanently stole his what little was left of his vision, the lucky uncle was saved. Thanks to the "Clear Eyesight For the Elderly" Project launched by Queen Sawangwattana Memorial Hospital. Charoon and other several hundreds of myopic sufferers have been provided with renewed vision, free of charge. Launched in 1997, the eye project is the brainchild of Prof Dr Chaivej Nuchprayoon, director of Queen Sawangwattana Memorial Hospital. "Many needy patients can't afford the high cost of a cataract operation. What we do is give them back their vision so they can take care of themselves, and not be a burden to their family or relatives anymore," Prof Dr Chaivej said. And uncle Charoon regained his self-esteem and self-reliance once again, now he can walk around the hospital and happily look at the passers-by and appreciate the natural beauty of the hospital situated beside the azure sea. "I feel grateful to the kind eye doctor [Dr Vaew-wan Chirachon] who took care of my case. She often comforted me before and after the eye operation with words of encouragement. Now I feel much relieved of my myopic condition," the uncle said. The "Clear Eyesight For the Elderly" Project is part of the hospital's humanitarian policy to serve the needy. According to the director, the eye programme is aimed at improving and upgrading the elderly's quality of life. "Good health means good quality of life. The aged are particularly vulnerable to degenerative conditions due to their physical deterioration, so they do need extra and attentive care. The most common condition found in the elderly is cataracts. Hence our eye project," Prof Dr Chaivej said. For over nine decades, Queen Sawangwattana Memorial Hospital, one of the oldest hospitals in Thailand, has played a crucial role in serving the local communities and providing them with a wide-ranging of free medical treatments and services. The hospital is now under the supervision of the Thai Red Cross Society. "Our hospital was set up with the purpose of serving local communities, especially poor patients who can't afford the high price of treatment. With the financial support from the Thai Red Cross Society and public donations, we can provide a large number of patients with a wide-range of free medical treatments and services like home-help, rehabilitation and ambulance services," the director said, adding that the hospital's annual budget-about 16 million baht-is set aside for supporting the needy patients' medical treatment. Over the past four years, two ophthalmologists-Dr Vaew-wan Chirachon and Dr Jayawin Kajittanon-have been responsible for the eye project. "Our duty is to help the cataract patients to achieve the best possible vision," said Dr Vaew-wan who graduated in medical science from Fatima College of Medicine, Philippines. According to Dr Vaew-wan, the cataract is usually found among those aged between 45 to 50 years and up. And a common symptom of myopia includes the dimming of vision associated with ageing. "A cataract is a cloudy area occurring in the lens of the eye in different positions. As the opacity is doubly thick, the lens loses the ability to filter light, necessary to produce clear and sharp vision. Prof Dr Chaivej Nuchprayoon: "Returning vision to the elderly is returning them their self-esteem and self-reliance." The cataract results in blurred vision or near-sightedness. If no surgical operation is performed, the cataract patient will eventually lose their eyesight," Dr Vaew-wan explained. According to Dr Jayawin, cataracts can be categorised into three types according to different locations of the cataract found on the lens. The most common occurs in the centre of the lens. This is called nuclear cataract which causes blurred vision mostly among the elderly. The cortial cataract, meanwhile, forms wedge-shaped spokes in the cortex of the lens. This problem gradually spreads to the centre, hence preventing the transmission of light through the lens. As a result, the sufferers, mostly diabetes patients, develop glare vision and lose the ability of making visual contrast. The subcapsular cataract is usually developed at the back of the lens and is regularly found among diabetes patients and those taking steroids continuously. But the cataract symptom can be healed if the patients go to the eye doctor "Sadly, most of the cataract sufferers who came to see me had already nearly gone blind. "This means that they have to put up with the poor eyesight for a long time. It seems that the poor have always to endure the worst sufferings in lives," Dr Vaew-wan said. According to Dr Jayawin, the cataract is developed inside the lens capsule which is responsible for holding the lens in place. And the eye surgery to remove the cataract takes around half an hour. "We need to open the front part of the lens capsule to remove the cataract by using a technique of ultrasonic vibrations. The cataract is broken apart and then vacuumed out of the lens capsule. This technique keeps the lens capsule intact. The artificial lens then is inserted in place of the original one," Dr Vaew-wan explained. The artificial lens are varied in size depending on the incision across the lens capsule. And each patient will receive the artificial lens best suited to them. But if a patient has a left and right cataract, only one may be replaced due to the constant restraints on their budget. "Sharing the vision" is the concept. "Most cataract patients get upset upon hearing this. All we can do is to explain them why we can't perform operations on both eyes. Every patient must get the equal chance of undergoing the eye operation. And the cost of treatment must be equally distributed. The restoration of sight in two eyes of one patient can result in another's permanent loss in one. "And we can't let that happen," Dr Vaew-wan said. The eye doctor will thoroughly examine the symptoms in both eyes and then make decision on which one to undertake surgery on. "I tell my patients to be positive. One good eye is better than none," added the eye doctor. Such patients, however, are not totally without hope of full vision. If the cataract in the unoperated eye deteriorates, there is a second chance. Presently, one eye doctor needs to take care of some 50 cataract patients monthly. And the eye doctors have to share the operation room with other doctors in different departments. "So we can perform eye surgery only once a week. Some eight to nine cataract patients find their way into my hands. Very often, we have to skip our lunch as many patients are lining up in front of the operation room waiting for their turn. We, however, enjoy our work," Dr Vaew-wan said. Dr Vaew-wan Chirachon and Dr Jayawin Kajittanon dedicate themselves to cataract patients. Though the number of cataract patients is ever-increasing, it is too risky for the ophthalmologists to hasten the operation. "We can't accelerate our work because the eye surgery requires much concentration. A bit of carelessness can result in great damage," Dr Jayawin added. Though busy all day long, the two eye doctors are undaunted by their mission to bring the world of sight back to their patients. "Most of my patients are accompanied by their relatives. They can't walk around freely because of their poor eyesight. But after getting through the eye surgery, they become a new person. They are happy and smiling. That keeps me going," Dr Jayawin said. "It is my immense joy to help my cataract patients see the world clearly once again. After their bandages are removed some of my patients tell me I am beautiful. So we share a happy moment with each other," Dr Vaew-wan said with a laugh. At present, some 50 cataract patients are still on the waiting list, as the hospital has found it hard to cope with the economic meltdown. And public donations, as a result, have also declined. "The eye project can go on as long as Thais still treasure the value of giving. One's happiness can blossom out of helping another to be happy. When we all reach that understanding, our society will be a better place to live in," Prof Dr Chaivej said. Info for donations: - Name of organisation: Queen Sawangwattana Memorial - Hospital Contact Person: Prof Dr Chaivej Nuchprayoon, director of Queen Sawangwattana Memorial Hospital Address: 290 Jerm-jom-phol Road, Sriracha, Chon Buri - Tel: (038)322-157-9, 325-590-8 - Fax: (038) 311-008 - Email: info@somdej.or.th - Account information: Siam Commercial Bank, Sriracha branch, Chon Buri province, current account no: 527-3-00153-4. - "We care" is a fortnightly series honouring people who believe in giving. In addition to supporting these causes, you can let us know about people who unselfishly help others so we can make more people aware of their efforts. Fax "We care" on 240-3668 or call 240-3700 ext 3208 or 3212. Email can be sent to sanitsuda@bangkokpost.net. For a comprehensive list of charities covered by Outlook's "We Care" series, see the Bangkok Post Web site at www.bangkokpost.net/outlook wecare.		Daily Main Entrance Page Local News Business Outlook Weekly IT news Horizons Travel NiteOwl (Trink) Real.Time Motoring Student Weekly Entertainment & Lifestyle What's on Dining out Recipe of the week Movies Music Book Review Beauty Fitness Nutrition NEW! 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