6 inspiring stories of restored sight this World Sight Day

Every year, World Sight Day reminds us how precious our vision is. It’s a day to pause, reflect, and acknowledge the millions of people worldwide living with avoidable blindness and vision loss — and to celebrate the hope and opportunity that comes when sight is restored. 

At The Fred Hollows Foundation, we’ve seen time and again how eye health can transform lives. From children returning to school, to parents rejoining the workforce, to grandparents recognising the faces of their families again — every story of sight restored is powerful.

Here are six of our favourite stories of sight restored from around the world. 

In a hurry? 

Click on the link to jump to each story: 

• Blaise from Rwanda

• Gift from Kenya

• Lumnguen from Laos

• Jeffery from Australia

• Chanthoeun from Cambodia
• Taufik from Ethiopia

Blaise, Rwanda 

A mother’s relief and a child’s new vision—Blaise and Redempta together. 

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia 

Blaise is a shy seven-year-old from Kayonza district in Rwanda’s eastern province. Already blind in one eye, his vision in the other was fading fast due to cataract. Without treatment, Blaise would have soon faced total blindness. 

Despite his struggles, Blaise was determined to keep up with his classmates and proudly ranked fifth in his class. His mother, Redempta, a single mum of two, worried about his future but couldn’t afford the surgery he needed. 

Thanks to community health workers supported by The Fred Hollows Foundation, Blaise was referred to the Kabgayi Eye Unit. There, paediatric ophthalmologist Dr Tuyisabe Theophile reassured him by turning a surgical glove into a balloon before the operation. 

The next morning, Blaise woke up, scanned the room, and smiled at his mother before rushing out to play football with his friends. 

Redempta said: “My skin is glowing because of the inner happiness I feel. I left with a child who was blind and came back with a child who can see. That child is the future of Rwanda.” 

Gift, Kenya 

Gift sees clearly again for the first time in years 

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia 

For three years, 11-year-old Gift from Kilifi County in Kenya lived with vision loss caused by cataract. He struggled to read, squinted in class, and found everyday tasks difficult. 

When his parents realised the seriousness of his condition, they took him to hospital — but the cost of surgery was out of reach. In desperation, they turned to their church for prayers, but nothing changed. 

Finally, with support from The Fred Hollows Foundation and our partner Kwale Eye Centre, Gift received the surgery he needed. 

His older brother Bernard noticed the difference immediately: “Prior to surgery, he would bring the phone very close to his eyes, but after surgery, when I gave him my phone, he placed it at a distance. This change in behaviour has made me believe that he has regained his sight, which is a true miracle.” 

Lumnguen, Laos 

Seven-year-old Lumnguen on his way to life-changing surgery.  

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia 

When Lumnguen was five years old, a slingshot accident injured his eye. His parents didn’t realise the seriousness of the injury, and over time his vision grew worse. By the age of seven, even walking to school was dangerous. 

At a school screening supported by The Fred Hollows Foundation, Lumnguen met Dr Visay Chanthavong, who promised to operate and restore his sight. 

After successful cataract surgery, Dr Visay surprised Lumnguen with four chickens to cheer him up during recovery. 

Grinning with his new pets, Lumnguen said he wanted to ride his bike to school again and one day become a doctor himself. Dr Visay told him: “It is a privilege for me to help Lumnguen. It is like I am being an instrument for a new life for him.” 

Jeffrey, Australia 

A successful surgery brings Jeffrey closer to continuing the work he loves 

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia 

Jeffrey Foster, a Warumungu man and ranger in the Northern Territory, has spent nearly a decade caring for Country — protecting sacred sites, supporting biodiversity, and managing traditional burns. 

But smoke from a backburn, combined with an old welding injury, left him with cloudy vision from cataract. Losing sight meant losing his ability to work safely on Country. 

Jeffrey travelled five hours from Tennant Creek to Alice Springs for cataract surgery, supported through a partnership between The Fred Hollows Foundation, Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation, and Alice Springs Hospital. 

He was one of seven patients to receive surgery that week through a culturally safe program designed to close the eye health gap for First Nations people, who are 12 times more likely to have blinding cataract than other Australians.

Chanthoeun, Cambodia 

With her new glasses, Chanthoeun can clearly see her family again. 

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia  

For almost 30 years, blurry vision shaped Chanthoeun’s life. As a girl, she had to leave school when her family couldn’t afford treatment. As an adult, she struggled to care for her children and run her small business. 

At 41, she finally received the help she had been waiting for through The Foundation’s partnership with the Cambodian Government and the SURES project, funded by USAID. 

A simple pair of prescription glasses transformed her life. Now she can drive her children to school, help them with homework, and run her gas-refilling business independently. 

Taufik, Ethiopia 

A simple but delicate procedure brings Taufik closer to seeing again. 

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia 

Taufik Hussen, a bright student from Oromia province in Ethiopia, dreamed of becoming a doctor. But as his sight deteriorated from cataract, his grades slipped and he considered leaving school. 

In his region, eye health services are scarce. More than 300,000 people in Oromia alone are waiting for cataract surgery. Outreach programs supported by The Fred Hollows Foundation bring services directly to rural communities, so people like Taufik don’t have to travel long distances. 

At an outreach clinic at Dedo Primary Hospital, Taufik underwent cataract surgery on both eyes. The next morning, he looked at his hand and proudly counted five fingers. 

His mother, Taju, was overcome with relief: “I am very happy. Thanks to Allah. I feel happiness and I thank you for your support. My lovely son is saved because of you.” 

With his sight restored, Taufik plans to return to school and is determined to finish among the top students in his class. 

This World Sight Day 

This World Sight Day, the theme is Love Your Eyes. It’s a reminder to appreciate the simple, everyday moments that vision makes possible — seeing loved ones, reading a book, learning in class, or working to support your family. 

These six stories show how restoring sight can transform lives across generations and communities. 

On World Sight Day, we celebrate the gift of sight — and the incredible journeys of people like Blaise, Gift, Lumnguen, Jeffrey, Chanthoeun, and Taufik.