DZI Spendensiegel
Plastic lenses
Plastic lens restores vision
It only happens very gradually: initially, one only notices a slight mist. As if one had a smudgy film or a shadow on the eye. Then, during the course of some months, sometimes years the condition slowly worsens: the sight deteriorates until the opacity of the lens has become so advanced that one is virtually blind in that eye.
Grey star is a natural ageing process of the eye, which mainly affects people in Germany only when they are older. In India, however, where the general living conditions, in particular in rural areas, are far worse, opacity often begins when people are still fairly young. Because India does not have a functioning public healthcare system, many Indians from poorer backgrounds lose their vision permanently, which means they are no longer able to work for their upkeep.
At the same time, treating grey star is fairly simple: during an operation, lasting about five to ten minutes, the clouded lens is removed and replaced by an artificial, ca. 5 mm big plastic lens. The original sight is restored only a few days after the operation.
The physicians in the eye clinic of our partner AMG India in Rajahmundry implant about 6,000 lenses per year for people who would otherwise not be able to afford this operation. The operation under local anaesthesia including two nights at the clinic costs 6,000 Rupees - this is equivalent to ca. € 100.
We need your help!
If you would like to support this project, please make a donation using the reference “Grey Star”.
A one-off donation of € 100 is enough!
And of course, every little amount you can spare is welcome, every Cent or Euro helps a good cause.
You can either donate directly using our online donation form or you can use our
Donation accounts:
Word & Deed
18 Main Street
Lubenham
Market Harborough
LE16 9TF
Barclays Bank plc - Sort Code: 20-48-42 - Account: 60720224