Buddha Devi’s Journey Back to Sight

Buddha Devi at the Khopoli camp, before her surgery

At 68, Buddha Devi arrived at the Sankara Eye Foundation’s outreach camp at Khopoli, carrying something many patients bring with them – hope. Over time, her vision had deteriorated, making everyday life increasingly difficult. At the camp, she was screened and identified for treatment. Through Sankara’s rural outreach program, transportation to and from the hospital, surgery, and follow-up care are all arranged at no cost.

For Buddha Devi, the free eye surgery at the Panvel Hospital in Maharashtra gave her the chance to see the world clearly again, to move through life with greater confidence, and to reclaim a sense of independence that fading vision had slowly taken away. Her story is a reminder that for many people living in remote and underserved communities, the challenge isn't just blindness; it's distance, coupled with poverty. It's not knowing where to turn for help. That's why outreach matters.