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“My eyes hurt, I don’t see so well”

Four years old is too young to be worried about losing your sight to cataracts.

We first met Muhammad when he was four years old; he was confident, loving, and living with cataracts.

Take a look at the gallery below to see Muhammad’s story and how a sight-saving cataract operation changed his life.

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Muhammad stands inside his home with his arms folded.
With cataracts in both eyes at such a young age, Muhammad was at risk of losing his sight before he reached adulthood.
Muhammad sits with his father, Abubakar, looking at a book.
He was too young to understand why he was struggling to see clearly, but would ask his father, Abubukar, to “fix” his eyes.
Muhammad sits inside his home, between his father, Abubakar, and grandmother, Halima.
Muhammad's family was worried. Every year, the chances of the cataracts causing lasting damage to his sight would have increased.
Muhammad tips his head close to a book as he struggles to read due to his cataracts.
Muhammad's sight loss was becoming more obvious by the day. He would tip his head to try and focus and struggled to play.
Muhammad climbs onto Halima's back to play. They are both laughing.
Muhammad’s grandmother, Halima, described how she loved his playfulness. Muhammad would climb up to ride on her back and run around happily in the safety of her home.
Halima and Muhammad play and laugh together on the sofa.
Both his father, Abubakar, and his grandmother were desperate to ensure cataracts didn’t take away his bubbly personality.
Muhammad and Abubakar walk together through their village.
Abubakar was concerned his son’s sight was deteriorating. He told us: “He runs into things without seeing. His condition has declined drastically.”
Abubakar carries Muhammad down a set of stairs at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria.
Muhammad’s father brought him to the National Eye Centre, where a Sightsavers-supported paediatric ophthalmologist diagnosed him with cataracts and immediately referred him for a cataract operation.
Muhammad sits on a hospital bed between his father and grandmother.
He was a little nervous about being in the hospital but, in fact, he was more worried about having an injection than the surgery!
Muhammad sits with his father and grandmother at home the day after his cataract operation.
The operation was a success, and when Muhammad’s bandages were removed, Abubakar could tell his son’s sight was already clearer.
Muhammad sits at his desk at school.
Two years later, at six years old, Muhammad is now at school with his friends, which he loves.
Miss Imam teaches at the front of a classroom in Nigeria.
Despite starting school late, he’s doing well, and his teacher, Miss Imam (pictured), reports he enjoys reading and writing.
Muhammad looks back and smiles while sitting in class.
Now six years old, Muhammad said: “I feel happy at school. I love to colour, write and draw. I want to learn how to ride a bicycle.”

The moment when a child’s bandages are removed and they can see a new life without cataracts is such a wonderful thing to be a part of.

Today, you can help be a part of that moment for a child.

You can help more children like Muhammad

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