Restore sight for 1,500 women in Pakistan.

Each year, LRBT restores sight and offers free eye treatment to over 1.5 million women across Pakistan, transforming lives through sight-saving interventions. Through this critical work, LRBT empowers countless women to regain independence, pursue their dreams, and provide for their families, helping them lead productive lives unhampered by curable blindness.This report highlights the profound impact of LRBT’s services on women’s lives and tells the story of Mehak, a young woman who found hope, strength, and a new beginning after treatment at LRBT. 

Curable blindness and impaired vision affect many women across Pakistan, often limiting their ability to support themselves and their families. LRBT’s free, comprehensive eye care helps women reclaim their independence and dignity, allowing them to overcome social and economic barriers. By providing access to free eye treatment and surgeries, LRBT enables these women to become active participants in their communities, earn a livelihood, and become role models for others. Restoring their sight restores more than just vision; it restores their confidence and their future.

A Journey from Darkness to Independence Mehak’s story exemplifies the impact of LRBT’s work on the lives of women affected by vision impairment. A young mother, Mehak faced a sudden life-altering injury when crumbling wall chalk and paint debris fell into her eyes while she was cleaning her home. Her eyes became inflamed and painful, and her family sought treatment at a private clinic where she was given medication. Unfortunately, the treatment did not resolve her symptoms, and her vision continued to deteriorate. As her eyesight worsened, Mehak became reliant on others for basic daily tasks. She struggled to navigate her surroundings and depended on family members even for feeding herself. Her condition became a source of ridicule by her in-laws, who labeled her as “disabled” and began urging her husband to consider divorce, doubting her ability to ever regain her sight. The emotional strain took a toll on her marriage, and ultimately, her husband filed for divorce. Heartbroken, Mehak moved back in with her parents, bringing along her one-year-old son.

Determined to become a positive role model for her son and to regain her independence, Mehak resolved to take control of her future. She visited LRBT for a thorough examination and was diagnosed with corneal damage, necessitating a corneal transplant. Within three months, LRBT found a corneal match for Mehak, and she underwent successful surgery.

Following her recovery, supported by her parents and sister, Mehak reclaimed her independence and found a renewed sense of purpose. Motivated by her experience, she chose to become a teacher, at a local madrasah and she is hoping to secure a permanent teaching position at a school. She now serves as a role model for her son and for other women in her community, showing that resilience and hope can overcome adversity.

Mehak’s story is one of many that illustrate LRBT’s transformative impact on women’s lives. Through sight restoration, LRBT helps women like Mehak overcome the challenges of blindness and visual impairment, empowering them to become self-reliant, confident, and productive. LRBT’s work not only restores sight but also renews hope, giving women the tools they need to shape their future and provide for their families. The support of donors makes these life-changing interventions possible, enabling women to regain their vision and, with it, their independence and dignity.