Missed Moments

This summer, Sightsavers is asking you to imagine living with blindness. Picture a moment in your life you would have been devastated to miss if you lost your sight.

Did you know that 36 million people worldwide are blind, but 75 per cent of this blindness is preventable? Almost all of those affected live in developing countries. Tragically, most of these people didn’t need to go blind at all.

Sightsavers works in some of the poorest areas of the world to protect sight, prevent avoidable blindness and fight for the rights of people with disabilities.

To not be able to see your loved ones is heartbreaking. But in the countries where we work, blindness has a devastating impact on people’s lives.

Children miss out on their education and the chance to fulfil their potential. Parents become a burden and are unable to support their families. People with sight loss are isolated by communities and constantly fear for their safety.

We’re asking our generous supporters in Galway to help change the lives of people like Winesi and Fahad, who were both severely affected by cataracts. You can read their stories below.

Young Fahad kept getting in trouble at school for not paying attention in class. His parents were worried he would miss out on an education. And Winesi’s sight had been declining for more than a decade, he had become totally reliant on his family and was terrified they would soon run out of food.

But thanks to our amazing Sightsavers supporters, both Fahad and Winesi received sight-saving cataract operations, which transformed their lives and mean they never have to miss another moment. Now Fahad can read and colour along with the other children in his class, and Winesi has finally seen his 18-month old grandson for the first time.

Please will you donate this summer and give hope to those living with preventable blindness like Fahad and Winesi?