 Patient
Stories
Blindness
is devastating. At any age.
But a child without sight,
whether by
birth or by accident,
is especially tragic
with their entire
future at risk. Children
who are partially or
totally blind are
unable to participate
in the world around
them as sighted
children are, which
effects their social
growth, their learning
and virtually everything
related to growing up.
Good
eyesight
is critical
for the children
in
Armenia
to grow up with
all the
advantages
they
need
to
be
healthy,
happy,
productive
citizens.
80%
of
what
a child
learns
depends
on
the
efficiency
of
the
visual
system
with
vision
problems
in
school-age
children
very
frequently
leading
to
learning
problems.
According
to
experts,
almost
50%
of
children
with
learning
difficulties
have
vision
disorders.
In
most
cases
these
problems can
be
successfully
treated
leading
to
improved
learning
and
better
grades.
In
America
most
of
us
have
our
eyes
examined
and
treated
before
we
become
blind
from
cataracts
or
glaucoma.
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In
America
most of
us
have
our
eyes
examined
and treated
before we
become blind
from cataracts
or glaucoma.
But in
Armenia,
the people
are not
as fortunate.
More than
50% of
Armenians
have never
seen a
doctor, let
alone
an
ophthalmologist-and
sadly,
accept
blindness
as
their
fate.
They
believe
blindness
is
part
of
getting
old
and
don't
think
they
can
do
about
their
plight.
And
the children—this
year we will emphasize
prevention as
we screen more
than 8,000 in
schools and orphanages.
But
the truth is,
we couldn't'
begin to do what
we
are doing without
friends like
you!
Day in and day
out the contributions
of our donors
make a huge difference
in the lives
of Armenians.
Please,
rush your gift
today. Imagine
what it is like
to be blind-every
day without sight
is an eternity.
By sending a
contribution,
you will help
us reverse despair
and anguish that
blindness—unnecessary
blindness—brings.
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Tsovinar
Injured
by
the
landmine
that
killed
her
older
brother,
Tsovinar
was
found
bleeding
on
the
side
of
the
road.
Examined
by
AECP
doctors
on
the
Mobile
Eye
Hospital
in
Karabagh, they
found
a
piece
of
shrapnel
in
her
eye
that
threatened
her
eyesight.
Rushed
to
Yerevan,
sight-saving
surgery
was
performed
by
Drs.
Ohanesian
and
Malayan. |
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Pavel
A
Karabagh
teenager,
Pavel
was
the
victim
of
a
landmine
explosion.
A
concerned
traveler,
the
Cafesjian
Family
Foundation,
and
two
international
organizations–The
HALO
Trust
and
the
Armenian
EyeCare
Project–mobilized
to
save
his
sight
through
surgery. |
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Goharik
A
gifted
young
singer,
Goharik
was
nearly
blind
since
the
age
of
three,
suffering
from
Uveitis.
Following
several
surgeries,
AECP
Doctor
Rick
Hill
performed
surgery
ending
the
threat
of
blindness. |
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Hovhannes
Hovhannes
suffers
from
a
rare
disease
that
destroys
the
retina,
which
could
not
be
treated
in
Armenia.
Brought
to
the
United
States
by
the
AECP
to
receive
sight-restoring
surgery,
his
future looks
bright.
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Arashaluis
Born
with
congenital
cataracts
in
both
eyes,
Arashaluis
has
been
virtually
blind
since
birth.
The
AECP
medical
team
implanted
intraocular
lens,
which
enabled
him
to
see
and
to
be
more
like
the
other
kids
at
school. |
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The
EyeCare
Project’s
goal is
to screen
Armenians
country-wide
for eye
disease and
to provide
treatment
and surgery
for those
in need.
Adopt-a-Village
is a program
for donors
who would
like to
contribute
to a specific
region or
village.
Adoption
costs range
from a few
hundred
dollars to
several thousand
dollars
depending
on the population.
To
discuss
a special
adoption
program for
you and
your family
and for a
complete
list of villages,
towns and
regions
available
for adoption,
please contact
us on our
toll-free
number 866-448-2327.
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The
Children: Bringing
sight to Armenia’s
future
