u/Longjumping-Bread143

I am a 19-year-old male living in a small island nation. I was born with bilateral congenital cataracts (both eyes). Unfortunately, due to a lack of access to medical facilities here, I have never received any treatment or surgery for them.

I have lived with this my whole life, but I have finally reached a point where I want to take control of my future and get the surgery to improve my vision and my quality of life. I have started saving money and am looking to travel abroad for the procedure because we don’t have the specialists here.

1. The Surgeon: Pediatric or Adult?

I know that if I were an infant, a pediatric ophthalmologist would handle this. But now that I am 19 (almost 20), I am confused about who is actually qualified to operate on me. Should I be looking for a Pediatric Ophthalmologist (who specializes in children's eye conditions) or a general Adult Cataract Surgeon (who usually operates on older patients with age-related cataracts)? Is the surgical technique (phacoemulsification) the exact same, or does my age change the complexity?

2. Is it too late? Can it be successful?

I am terrified that because I have had these cataracts since birth, my brain might not be able to process the new clear images even if the surgery is physically successful. Is there a high risk of "lazy eye" (amblyopia) or permanent vision loss even after the lens is removed? Is it easy for a surgeon to operate on a lens that has been there for 19 years, or is it much more difficult than a standard cataract?

3. Choosing a Destination (India vs. Expensive options)

I cannot afford European or US prices. I have been looking at India because I hear they have great medical tourism and the costs are much more affordable. However, I am finding mixed reviews online which makes me feel unsafe and uncertain. Does anyone have experience with specific, trustworthy eye hospitals in India that handle complex cases like mine? Or should I consider somewhere else that is affordable?

Honestly, I am really scared.

I know I need to do this to have a better life and stop feeling like a burden to my family, but I am paralyzed by the fear of it not being successful. My life feels like it hangs on this one surgery. Thanks

Hello folks thanks for allowing my request, i m a student who will sit for his upcoming a level exam this year, i m tensed thinking abt the job opportunites in mauritius i perviosuly got 5 credits in my O level including Maths and English but got E in French, some told me to re sit for it unfortunately i couldnt due to the pressure of studies already in lower (Grade 12) now by far i know that in the civil service jobs it is required to have french, english and maths but i m not looking for govenrment jobs so this doesnt matter to me but i m doing Maths, Economics and Accounting as mains subject in A level, i m trying hard to get Cs at least in all the subjects and maybe a B in Economice but the Accounting i m not really sure if I can even get a C i m afarid i will get a D, i dont really like accounting as much so i dont really know if i should study ACCA which most probably i wont be able to do as it is very hard and i dont know bur i think the market is saturated due to many ACCAs holders nowadays, but my problem should I go for accounting or no and wht should I go for if it is not accounting another major issue is that i will have limited job opportunies due to my french actually this is the major issue is the French will i never get private jobs for finance or any other sector due to french???

Plz help me is there still an opportunity to get jobs in Mauritius for me in private sector even with an E in French. Thanks for reading