It’s startling to think that 20 million people worldwide are blind because of cataracts. Here in Hawaiʻi, a group called WikiVision has helped more than a hundred people receive free surgery to correct their vision.
The surgery can cost $6,000 to $10,000 for those who don't have insurance.
Alec and Arabella Tan, a brother and sister, are behind the student-led nonprofit. It’s raised over $100,000 and aims to help another 20 cataract patients this fall.
Arabella is a junior at ʻIolani School and is taking over as her brother heads to college. She joined The Conversation in our studio.
“Because our mom is an ophthalmologist, we've just been hearing stories as we've grown up of people who have needed this cataract surgery and have recovered from it and been able to see," she said. "Being able to restore this vision with an effective surgery is an amazing thing. And so we thought that it would be great to be able to offer this to our community.”
She's working with five other teens to identify 20 patients in need of cataract surgery. July 24 is the deadline to schedule a screening appointment.
An online fundraising campaign is underway with plans for a fundraising concert on Aug. 24 at ʻIolani School.
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This interview aired on The Conversation on July 12, 2024. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.
