The power of sight for mothers and their families

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the role mothers play in shaping our lives. It is a moment to recognise their strength, their care and the many ways they support their families every day. 

But for millions of women around the world, vision loss makes that role much harder than it should be. 

Women are less likely to access the eye care they need, even when treatment is available. Barriers such as cost, distance, limited decision-making power and competing responsibilities often mean their own health is delayed or overlooked. For mothers, that impact extends far beyond their own sight. It affects how they support their children, how they earn an income and how they move through daily life. 

Across The Fred Hollows Foundation’s work, one thing is clear. Whether it is a mother regaining her vision or a child seeing clearly for the first time, restoring sight can transform what life looks like for an entire family. 

A childhood on hold in Kenya

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia

Three years ago, Jira was excited to start school. Instead, he was sent home because he could not see. 

Now seven, he spends his days on a remote patch of land in Kwale County, Kenya, playing with toys he shapes from clay while his younger sister guides him through a world that is becoming harder to see. With no nearby health services and no money for treatment, his condition deteriorated. 

For his mother, Fatima, the challenge is constant. She is raising nine children while her husband travels long distances to sell produce. Each day is focused on keeping the family going. 

“My hope is that if Jira goes to school, our struggles might be reduced,” she said. 

For Fatima, restoring Jira’s sight means more than education. It offers the possibility of easing the pressure she carries and giving her son a chance at independence. 

A mother regains her role in Cambodia

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia

In Cambodia, Chanthoeun has lived with blurred vision since she was a child. At just 10 years old, she was forced to leave school because her family could not afford treatment. 

That decision shaped the course of her life. Decades later, as a mother of three, her world was still limited by poor vision. 

After receiving prescription glasses through a Foundation-supported program, everyday life opened up again. She now drives her children to school, helps them with their homework and runs a small gas refilling business. 

For Chanthoeun, clear vision has meant being able to take an active role in her children’s lives and build a more secure future for her family. 

When a daughter carries the burden

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia

In Cambodia, Sok’s vision loss reshaped her entire household. 

A single mother, she had been earning an income selling food in her community. But when she became blind, she could no longer work. Her daughter had to stop working to care for her, placing the family under even greater strain. 

“I feel pity for my daughter because she’s had to stop working to look after me. It makes it difficult for her,” Sok said. 

After cataract surgery, Sok’s sight was restored. She can now see clearly, read again and reconnect with her family. 

“Nothing can compare. I can see everyone around me, especially my daughter.” 

Her recovery allows her daughter to return to her own life, lifting a responsibility that had fallen too heavily on her shoulders. 

A turning point for one family in Rwanda

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia

For Claudine in Rwanda, the pressure came from many directions. Her daughter Valentine was struggling at school because she could not see the blackboard, while at home Claudine was also caring for another family member who was blind. 

These challenges made it difficult to work and support her household. 

Everything changed when both received sight-restoring surgery. Valentine returned to school with confidence, able to learn and participate fully. Claudine was able to return to work, with a renewed sense of stability. 

“This is going to change my life,” she said, watching her daughter smile with new confidence. 

For this family, restored sight created space for both mother and child to move forward. 

Reclaiming independence in Indonesia 

Photo credit: Reynald Ramirez

Kartini had always been active in caring for her four children, but as cataracts affected her vision, daily life became more difficult. 

She began to withdraw, avoiding tasks she once managed easily and losing confidence in moving around her community. Even simple routines became uncertain. 

“I don’t want to be a burden to my family. My role as a mother is to care for them,” she said. 

After surgery, her sight was restored. With it came the ability to return to her daily routines and take care of her family again. 

For Kartini, seeing clearly means being able to live independently and fulfil the role that matters most to her. 

A future restored in Rwanda 

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia

Juliette understands the challenges of vision loss, having lived with impairment herself while raising four children. But watching her son Raban struggle was deeply concerning. 

He could not see the board at school, found it difficult to complete chores and began to withdraw from activities he once enjoyed. 

Juliette worried about what this would mean for his future. 

“If he studies, he will be able to get a job and live a good life,” she said. 

After surgery, Raban’s confidence returned immediately. He could see clearly, move freely and return to school. 

“When I saw mum I was happy that we’ll be smiling together, laughing together and going to church together.” 

For Juliette, it is a moment of relief and a renewed sense of possibility for her child. 

When mothers can see, families can thrive 

These stories are different, but they are connected by a shared truth. When sight is restored, the impact reaches far beyond one person. 

For mothers, it can mean regaining independence, returning to work and being able to support their children with confidence. When a child’s sight is restored, it can ease the pressure on mothers and open the door to education, opportunity and a more stable future. 

This Mother’s Day, it is worth recognising just how transformative access to eye care can be. 

The Fred Hollows Foundation is working in more than 25 countries to restore sight and end avoidable blindness. With the right support, more mothers can regain their independence and more children can reach their full potential. 

You can be part of that change. Donate today to help restore sight, or become a Visionary with a monthly gift to support this work every day.