At age 16, Sohail Sayyed of Moomar, India, is head of the household in a family that includes his mother, Fraida, and his 13-year-old brother. Sohail’s father has just recently died, and Sohail is expected to earn the wages that will put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.

Although this is a heavy responsibility for any child, it is particularly painful for Sohail, who suffers from corneal disease. Born with bilateral corneal dystrophy, a condition in which one of more parts of the cornea lose their clarity due to a buildup of cloudy material, Sohail has had extremely poor eyesight all of his life. Without a corneal transplant, his ability to provide for his family is severely limited.

Fraida is anxious about the family’s future. “I always worry about Sohail. He is refused many jobs because of his vision. He is our support now.”

ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital offers hope

As a young boy, Sohail struggled to read and complete his assignments. Because of his poor vision, he dropped out of school in the fifth grade.

Unable to see more than five feet in front of him, Sohail rarely leaves his home and does so only when it is absolutely necessary. Because sunlight

Sohail and his mother, Fraida

hurts his eyes, he avoids going outside, giving up one of his favorite pastimes — kite flying. Because Sohail has no night vision, he is often assisted by a relative or feels his way along after sundown.

Sohail made his way to Mumbai in hopes of finding work, but to no avail. Prior to his father’s death, he sold shoes along the side of the road, making 100 rupees a week — the equivalent of US$2 — to help his family make ends meet.

Conversing during an ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital visit to Mombai, Sohail said he hopes the surgery will change his life. He wants to work. “I don’t have time to play,” he says. “I have to take care of my mother and brother.”

Sohail attended patient screening day all by himself, knowing no one, keeping in mind his hopes for a new beginning. Days prior to his surgery, he submitted his application for a business loan to open a clothing store. A clothing store, he said, would provide sufficient income for him to take care of his family.

Corneal dystrophy – a treatable condition

Dr. Andrew Huang prepares precut cornea tissue using the Moria tissue cutting system.

Corneal dystrophies are rare conditions in which the cornea is altered without the presence of any inflammation, infection or other eye disease. The disease affects the clearness (transparency) of the cornea. When the cornea becomes cloudy, light can no longer reach the light-sensitive retina, resulting in poor vision and blindness.

Sohail was the beneficiary of a new technique using the Moria DSAEK Microkeratome, a machine that splits the layers of a cornea in two, enabling one donated cornea to benefit two patients. The Moria corporation generously lent the Flying Eye Hospital the machine specifically for the Mumbai visit. With this machine, it’s now possible to target which part of the cornea needs replacement and perform a partial corneal transplant. Sohail received the top layer of the donor cornea, and the bottom layer was set aside for another recipient.

The procedure is advantageous for several reasons:

• Corneas are in short supply.
• One cornea can benefit two people.
• Rehabilitation is faster.

Because this is a partial transplant, which is less invasive (the corneal replacement requires just one stitch to hold it in place), there is less risk of complications and a faster rate of healing.

Sohail receives his chance for a new beginning

The success rate of corneal transplantation as a treatment for corneal dystrophy is very high. For a transplant to be considered, the dystrophy must have already caused serious sight loss, and a specialist must believe that a corneal transplant offers a good opportunity to restore vision.

Sohail was selected for surgery and received his transplant that week. Following the surgery, the operated eye was covered with a plastic eye shield, which was removed the day after the operation. When the pad was removed, Sohail’s vision was blurred, which is quite normal. His eye also was a bit watery and sensitive to light. He was given eye drops to use, which he might need for months and years to come. The drops help reduce the likelihood that his body will reject the transplant. It can take more than a year for a transplant to heal completely.

Sohail says good-by to Dr. Prabriputaloong

The transplant was deemed a success, though, by Flying Eye Hospital surgeons.

“His graft (transplant) looks beautiful,” said Flying Eye Hospital chief ophthalmologist Tisha Prabriputaloong. “He told me that he can see clearer already. Usually for a corneal transplant it takes time. At least now he sees clearer with his new cornea. I’m happy and Sohail is happy.”

A few months after the operation, Sohail may need to wear glasses or contacts to obtain the best possible vision from the transplant. His vision may fluctuate as the transplant heals.

“I’m very thankful to ORBIS doctors for doing the surgery,” Sohail said, flashing a smile and donning his newly purchased sunglasses. With any luck, he’ll be in the clothing business, and flying a kite again, in no time.

You can help

Sohail received his cornea transplant through the financial support of kind donors like yourself. Your contribution can help ORBIS train additional ophthalmologists in cornea transplantation and establish urgently needed eye banks across the developing world. Please donate today and help others see.