amexShapeShapeGroupArrow DesktopGroup 6Shapenoun_credit cards_942014diners-outlineShapeicon_donatenoun_Globe_1335341 (1)ShapeSlice 1mastercardicon_newsletterArrow Desktop“ copyicon_searchvisa
FHFV3 https://www.hollows.org/What We Do /home https://www.hollows.org/App_Themes/FHF/images/logo.svg
customer support [email protected] +61 2 8741 1999 +61 2 8741 1900
Level 2, 61 Dunning Ave 2018 Rosebery NSW, Australia
https://twitter.com/FredHollows http://www.youtube.com/user/FHFvideos https://instagram.com/fredhollows/
The Fred Hollows Foundation logo
Donate
US
  • Global
    English
  • United States
    English
  • Australia
    English
  • Hong Kong S.A.R
    English 繁 簡
  • United Kingdom
    English
  • United Arab Emirates
    Arabic English
  • Donate
  • Why Sight Matters
    • Eye Diseases
    • Impact of Vision Loss
    • Ending Avoidable Blindness
  • Who We Are
    • Professor Fred Hollows
    • Our People
  • What We Do
    • Our Strategy
    • How We Deliver Impact
    • Who We Help
    • Advocacy and Influencing
    • Gender, Equity and Inclusion
    • Innovation and Research
    • Global Campaigns
  • Where We Work
  • Join us
    • Partner With Us
    • Get Involved
    • Careers
Donate
Background Image

The Timbang Family Story

Who We Help

Three generations of the Timbang family were left partially blind from rare genetic cataract.


For members of the Timbang family, from Tarlac in the Philippines, it’s unusual for the children to reach year 6 at school.

 

It’s not because they don’t want to learn, but it’s because they can’t see properly.

 

Doctors think the Timbang family has a rare genetic form of cataracts and so far 43 members of the family across three generations have been diagnosed with cataract.

 

“The Foundation became interested in them and we outlined the family tree and found out so many of them had cataract,” said Dr Shelley Mangahas from Tarlac Eye Centre.

 

43 people in the Timbang family have cataract

Subscribe to our channel here: http://bit.ly/2b1oCXu

 

It is unusual because from the grandparents to the children to the grandchildren they all have cataract. So there is a genetic component to this.

 

It is not common. For them, even at a young age they have cataract already.

 

Family matriarch, grandmother Iluminada Timbang Paculanan said: "The kids are lucky if they can finish grade 6 because they can't even see the blackboard.”
 


Seven of her nine children had cataracts, and now their children have also been diagnosed with the eye condition.

 

The cost of surgery was one barrier for the family, but so was the stigma of having eye problems.

 

For Layla Timbang, her husband's family history of cataracts came as a surprise. "I didn't realise at first, because he made sure it was always night when he courted me, so he didn't squint," she said.

 

"It was only after I got married that I found out about the family's eye problems."

 

Seven of her nine children had cataracts, and now their children have also been diagnosed with the eye condition.

 

The cost of surgery was one barrier for the family, but so was the stigma of having eye problems.

 

For Layla Timbang, her husband's family history of cataracts came as a surprise. "I didn't realise at first, because he made sure it was always night when he courted me, so he didn't squint," she said.

 

"It was only after I got married that I found out about the family's eye problems."

 

 

THE FRED HOLLOWS FOUNDATION DISCOVERED THE FAMILY’S PROBLEMS

 The mother of 10-year-old Marlon Jake, who also has cataract, worked as a housekeeper in Jordan for two years but wasn’t able to save enough money for the operation.
 

"I approached several doctors but it was too expensive — we just couldn't afford it," Layla said.

 

When The Fred Hollows Foundation discovered the family’s problems we stepped in to help.

 

Marlon Jake was one of the first in the family to have cataract surgery and convinced many of his cousins that the surgery could give them their sight.

 

“When I was writing it wasn’t clear and I couldn’t read books properly. Now I can study much better because my eye was operated on."

 

“I’m so happy because I can see better."

 

“I could see the pimples on my mum’s face,” the cheeky 10-year-old jokes. “That’s really the first thing I saw really clearly!”

 

Layla said: “He said ‘mum your nose is so big!’ and I really felt so happy because he could finally see clearly!”

Donate by phone

+1-646-868-8986
Donate Now Share with friends Subscribe to newsletter
"> "> "> ">
  • The Foundation
  • Annual Reports
  • Professor Fred Hollows
  • Our People
  • News and Updates
  • Eye Health
  • Research
  • Sight Simulator
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Donate now
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Security
  • Complaints
  • Safeguarding & Policies
  • Sitemap
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Security
  • Complaints
  • Safeguarding & Policies
  • Sitemap

The Fred Hollows Foundation (USA) is a registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organisation, EIN: 82-2851329

Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The Fred Hollows Foundation is a member of The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and is compliant with the ACFID code of conduct.

The Fred Hollows Foundation has safeguards and policies that guide its work.

All content © 2020 The Fred Hollows Foundation. All rights reserved. ABN 46 070 556 642


The Fred Hollows Foundation (USA) is a registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organisation, EIN: 82-2851329

Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The Fred Hollows Foundation USA has attained the Platinum Seal of Transparency on GuideStar.

The Fred Hollows Foundation has safeguards and policies that guide its work.

All content © 2020 The Fred Hollows Foundation. All rights reserved. ABN 46 070 556 642