Chansouk's Story

In a small village in rural Laos, Chansouk’s childhood was clouded by something most people don’t expect to happen to a child—cataract blindness.  

Living in poverty and facing limited access to healthcare, Chansouk’s family couldn’t imagine a solution to her worsening vision. But thanks to the generosity of supporters, her story became one of hope. 

When Chansouk was only two years old, a fire broke out near her home, severely injuring her eyes. Her parents rushed her to the hospital, where she was treated for days, but her vision continued to deteriorate. The trauma left a cataract in one of her eyes, and as the years passed, she gradually lost sight in that eye. 

Growing up, Chansouk stumbled and fell often, her limited vision making it difficult to navigate her surroundings. Her mother, Nam, recalls, “At home or on the farm, she would fall over quite often.” By the time Chansouk turned six, she had gone completely blind in one eye, and her family feared she would face a future filled with disadvantage. 

In her remote village, access to specialised eye care was scarce, and her family could not afford the journey to the nearest eye clinic. They did not know that cataracts could be treated with surgery and that Chansouk’s sight could be saved. It was during this time of despair that help arrived, thanks to supporters like you. 

At last, a local doctor trained by The Fred Hollows Foundation examined Chansouk and delivered the news her family had hoped for: surgery could save her remaining vision. Under the skilled hands of Dr. Senglar, an eye surgeon trained by the Foundation, Chansouk received sight-saving surgery. With her mother anxiously by her side, Chansouk woke up after the operation with an eye patch and a hopeful future. 

When the patch was lifted, the results were clear—her vision was restored, and her life transformed. Chansouk’s mother, Nam, was overjoyed to watch her daughter, now able to see clearly, put on a pair of plastic glasses and play with a toy stethoscope, pretending to be just like Dr. Senglar.

“I want my child to have a good education. I want her to make us proud by being successful in her career,” Nam says. 

Today, Chansouk’s story is a reminder of the ongoing need for accessible eye care in Laos. Thousands of people, especially children, are at risk of blindness due to treatable conditions like cataracts, yet limited access to healthcare and financial barriers often stand in the way. With only four ophthalmologists per million people in Laos, families in remote areas face long waits and challenging journeys to reach the care they need.