Curing Blindness Thousands at a Time Around the World

SAN ANTONIO. Cataract surgery is a simple and common procedure that can cure blindness, but many people go their entire lives without it. But there are many ophthalmologists here who help people all over the world to see so much of the life they have missed.

In the underdeveloped world, simple cataract surgery is simply not an option, or at least wasn’t an option for very many until organizations like the Himalayan Cataract Project came along. And for many who could not see for decades, blindness was cured, and life changed forever.

“You know, they don’t have the kind of infrastructure like laser equipment and technology that we have in developed countries,” said Dr. Gregory Parkhurst, CEO of Parkhurst NuVision, who has traveled to several countries around the world with the project.

The other, SEE International, was just unveiled by YouTube sensation MrBeast, whose video of curing blindness in 1,000 people worldwide has 95 million views in less than two weeks.

“There are people who even in their homes have ropes tied between the kitchen and the bedroom and/or toilet where they have to follow the rope to get there,” Dr. Parkhurst told us. “And it’s so sad because it can be fixed in 20 or 30 minutes.”

“If you’re wondering how this surgery allows people to see again, it’s because the lens in their eye has become so cloudy that they can’t see through it,” MrBeast said in the video. “So the surgeon uses a tiny vacuum to suck up the clouded lens. And replace it with an artificial one.

“Everyone has a slightly different reaction to this, but just being able to help someone see the world again when it’s been gone for so long is pretty cool,” added Dr. Parkhurst.

You can learn more about the Himalayan Cataract Project here and also about SEE International here.