Dr. Min Thein - Good to know about cataracts

Part 1

I was working as the chief physician at an ophthalmology hospital in a major city in central Myanmar.

As the eye clinic was closing time at 7:00 PM, the eye test equipment was being systematically put back in its place.

"Doctor, is the clinic closing? Please see one patient."

I looked in the direction of the sound and saw my school friend, Ko Htun Myaing, and an elderly woman in her 70s entering my clinic.

"Ko Tun Myaing, come and see me, just for each other, not because the clinic is closed."

Doctors working in rural areas like ours do not have separate clinics like in big cities like Yangon and Mandalay, but they open clinics in their homes and see patients. Now, not far from the eye hospital where I work, I rent a two-story house, and my family lives on the upper floor and opens a clinic on the lower floor.

Although the clinic has set opening and closing times for strangers, it cannot be set for old friends like Ko Htun Myaing and others, or for friends who are not able to attend.

Ko Htun Myaing was very happy when he heard that I would be moving to their city and he has already made all the arrangements for my stay and accommodation. He has also rented the house where I am opening my clinic, so as soon as I arrived in this city, I was able to open my own clinic in the house he rented. Therefore, for people like Ko Htun Myaing, I have the responsibility to look after them at all times.

"This is my aunt. She lives in ..., about twenty miles north of here. She's been saying she's got bad eyesight for a long time, and I've brought her here to show her."

Ko Tun Myaing introduced his aunt and asked her to sit in the patient chair.

"How did your eyesight start, Ado? How long has it been since you've had it?"

I asked about my eye condition.

'I've had blurry vision for over two years. There's no redness or stinging. When it first started, I tried adding saline solution and buying eye drops that my neighbors and friends had recommended, and it seemed to improve my vision a little. Then it stopped working and I haven't used any eye drops for a long time. My aunts and I are afraid of hospitals and clinics, so I don't show them.

"The ophthalmologist who just moved to Maung Htun Myaing came here because his friend insisted that he would show me himself."

"What are the eye drops you used before, Aunt? Do you remember the names of the drops?"

I want to know and ask.