Patients come to the Commune Health Center to have their Stage 4 Trachoma (Trachomatous Trichiasis-TT) repaired.
TT is when the repeated infections and corresponding inflammation cause the eye lid to distort. The bottom of the lid and the eye lashes turn in. As the patient blinks, the eye lash scratches the cornea. Each blink is painful, but more importantly, if not repaired the patient will lose their sight.
TT surgery corrects the eye lid so the bottom of the lid and eye lashes no longer scratch the cornea.
TT surgery is done on both the upper and lower eye lids. Some patients have one affected lid, others need all four to be repaired.
TT surgery costs $15 US. In Vietnam, the health care system is primarily a self pay system. With the average farmer earning $30 to $40 per month, in the rural areas the surgery does not get done unless a third party pays for it.
TT is when the repeated infections and corresponding inflammation cause the eye lid to distort. The bottom of the lid and the eye lashes turn in. As the patient blinks, the eye lash scratches the cornea. Each blink is painful, but more importantly, if not repaired the patient will lose their sight.
TT surgery corrects the eye lid so the bottom of the lid and eye lashes no longer scratch the cornea.
TT surgery is done on both the upper and lower eye lids. Some patients have one affected lid, others need all four to be repaired.
TT surgery costs $15 US. In Vietnam, the health care system is primarily a self pay system. With the average farmer earning $30 to $40 per month, in the rural areas the surgery does not get done unless a third party pays for it.
The physician doing the patient grading/check in, is Dr Luong from the National Institute of Ophthalmology. What a gentleman. He was a very gracious host to me. He speaks wonderful English, is extremely calm, and has a heart of gold with all the patients.
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