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Matching Grant # 55300 - Rotary District 3190 - India 
Eye Surgery Project

This matching grant project will fund 2,000 eye surgeries where cataracts will be removed and intra-ocular lenses will be placed, giving "Rotary's Gift of Sight" to 2,000 poor people in the Kolkata region of India.

The project partner for MG 55300 is Rotary District 3190 in southwestern India. In addition to funding coming from the Rotary Club of Bangalore Peenya and several other Rotary Clubs within D3190, additional funding came from the Avoidable Blindness Donor Advised Fund, and Rotary Districts 6060-eastern Missouri, District 6460-western Illinois, D6690-Ohio, and D6710 - western Kentucky.

The primary international partner is the Rotary Club of Collinsville, IL, D6460.

As of early January 2005, 1,700 patients have been helped.

Poor people with vision problems were collected from remote locations and brought to properly equipped eye hospitals to be screened. Many were identified as excellent candidates to have good vision after cataract removal.

Before the screening began, an inauguration ceremony was conducted, asking for blessings upon all.

Some of the women were presented with new sari's as a gesture of goodwill.

Eyes were thoroughly examined by ophthalmologists and other eye specialists to determine the best candidates for surgery and to evaluate outcomes.

Patients rest after surgery.

Dozens were treated by multiple ophthalmologists in just a few hours.

A small group of patients shortly after surgery.

Project status: Approved, and completed.