When Suresh could no longer see, he had to stop working and m0ve away from his home — until sight-restoring surgery gave him a way forward.
Two years ago, Suresh began to notice small changes in his vision. As a taxi driver in Suva, Fiji, he relied on his eyesight every day. But traffic lights became harder to see. Faces blurred. Night driving grew dangerous.
“I couldn’t see anything. Just shadows.”
What started gradually, soon took over. Suresh lost his sight and, with it, his ability to work.
He moved to Tavua to live with his daughter, Rozleen, who became his full-time support. She works as the town’s main pharmacist but while caring for her father, she had to step away from work often.
“He cannot see anything… When he looks at you, he just sees a shadow. He cannot recognise people,” Rozleen explained.
Suresh could no longer walk safely, drive, or recognise the people around him. Even for simple daily tasks he depended on his daughter.
When Rozleen heard that the Mobile Eye Clinic (MEC) was coming to Tavua, she encouraged her father to go. Her husband’s father had previously had cataract surgery, so she knew the difference it could make.
Despite the strain it put on her work responsibilities at the pharmacy, she made sure he could attend.
On the morning of his surgery, Suresh was so excited he was up and ready before sunrise
Rozleen brought him in and after the operation, the change was immediate.
He described the moment he realised it had worked as instant relief. Everything looked brighter. Familiar faces came back into focus.
“It’s a relief for me now. I can work peacefully, I don’t really have to worry about him,” Rozleen said. “I’m really happy for him”.
With his sight returning, Suresh is beginning to regain his independence. He can move around safely, recognise the people around him, and take care of himself again.
“In another two weeks, I’ll be walking and seeing everything. In another one month, I’ll be working!”.
When sight is restored, people can return to work, support themselves, and care for those around them.
For Suresh and his family, it means moving forward — together.
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