Ma’s story
“I was in a refugee camp for ten years with my vision getting worse all the time. Along with my sight, I lost all hope of happiness.” – Ma, aged 72.
Imagine spending ten years in a refugee camp with your vision slowly deteriorating. This was the harsh reality for 72-year-old Ma. By the time he arrived in Australia, he was virtually blind. Over the previous five years, his vision had worsened to the point where he was terrified of doing anything for fear of injuring himself or falling.
Ma, pictured in his kitchen where he can now cook for his family.
During his decade in the refugee camp, where food was scarce, Ma dreamed of the day he could indulge his passion for cooking in a land of abundance. But by the time that dream finally became a reality at age 71, his vision had deteriorated so severely that he couldn’t prepare the nourishing meals he had imagined sharing with his beloved family. By then, he had already lost 70 per cent of his vision.
Restore vision—and hope
By making a donation to the Lions Eye Institute’s sight-saving work today, you can help restore vision—and hope—to people like Ma.
Refugees like Ma experience high rates of vision loss from treatable eye conditions. Upon arriving in Perth, they join other vulnerable groups, such as asylum seekers and Indigenous Australians, in facing unique barriers to accessing public eye care services, including long wait times, cultural, language, financial, and transport challenges.
How the Lions InReach Vision (LIV) Program is making a difference
The Lions InReach Vision (LIV) program was established in 2022 to break down these barriers. Led by the Lions Eye Institute’s Associate Professor Hessom Razavi, whose family has a refugee background, the service is designed to address these disparities. It offers a more accessible way for refugees, asylum seekers, and Indigenous Australians to receive both optometry and ophthalmology care, improving overall eye health.
“We’ve put every effort into creating a culturally safe, trauma-informed service that provides refugees, asylum seekers and Indigenous Australians with every support possible, so we can truly bridge the gap,” says Associate Professor Hessom Razavi. “We also have strong connections with other organisations in refugee and Aboriginal health work which increases people’s sense of trust and comfort when they come to us for support with their sight.”
Your Support Transforms Lives
Ma was referred to LIV by the Red Cross shortly after he arrived in Perth. Nervous but hopeful, he met Associate Professor Razavi, having almost lost hope that his vision could be restored. Despite being nearly blind in one eye and halfway blind in the other, there was good news for Ma.
Associate Professor Hessom Razavi
“When I examined his eyes, I could see that while he had severe cataracts, we’d be able to treat his vision loss quite simply and vastly improve his quality of life very quickly,” says Associate Professor Razavi.
With two straightforward surgeries, Ma’s sight was restored to 20:20 vision.
After living so long with vision loss, being able to see again felt like a miracle to Ma. His family was astonished by the results, and for the team at LIV, it was heartwarming to witness their overwhelming gratitude.
“Ma and I don’t speak the same language, but I didn’t need the interpreter to tell me how thankful he was—I could see it in the smile that spread across his face,” says Associate Professor Razavi.
Six months on, Ma is still overcome with emotion when he talks about all the things he can do now that he can see again and the joy it has brought to his life.
“When I lived in the refugee camp, I felt so hopeless, but now I have my vision back, and I can do whatever I want—reading my bible, exercising, watching movies, and, of course, cooking for my beautiful family,” says Ma. “I’ve never felt so happy.”
You Can Help Change Lives Today
By making a donation today, you can help others, like Ma, access the life-changing eye care they desperately need. Your support can restore sight, renew hope, and transform lives.
