Eye Prosthesis Bring Hope to Young People
An eye prosthesis for 25 year-old Christine Hajinyan. A first look at Christine Hajinyan, 25, does not disclose anything unusual about her. A few minutes into the conversation, Christine reveals one devastating story after another. She was only nine when her brother found a pistol lying on the ground in their court yard in Avan, one of the communities on the outskirts of Yerevan. The children had just started exploring the deadly “toy” when the gun exploded, instantly killing Christine’s 8-year-old brother and completely destroying Christine’s left eye and causing her severe abdominal injuries. The family, shocked and devastated by her brother’s death, had to take quick action to save Christine’s life. Following a number of complicated surgeries, Christine began her recovery.  However, she never regained sight in her left eye.

It took a number of years for the devastated family to save enough money for Christine’s eye prosthesis, which has been replaced only once. “The doctors recommend changing it each year, but it is too expensive.  The last time I had it replaced was three years ago.  The pain is so intense I have to take medicine to open my eye,” she said.

After her accident Christine was faced with yet another tragedy.  Her parents died when she was 18, leaving her totally alone. Christine’s mother, 38, died of cancer. Her father, 45, unable to live without his wife, died just a few months later of a heart attack. Since their deaths Christine has worked as a cleaner in local cafes and restaurants trying to make ends meet. She says that as soon as employers learn about her eye injury she is usually fired in just a few weeks, “They assume I cannot clean well because I have only one eye.”

In the last two years her prosthesis has not been changed.  Her injury is more visible and it’s hard for her to find a job. Christine survives on a meager disability allowance paid by the State, which is less than $20 a month. “Even if I were to save most of my money for an entire year I could never afford the cost of prosthesis replacement, which is $200, said Christine. As she leaves the Armenian EyeCare Project’s Yerevan office Christine is smiling.  With new eye prosthesis donated by the Project, Christine hopes to find a better job, save enough money to complete her interrupted school studies and to eventually become a nurse. “I would really like to become a nurse so I can help people.”