Sreyleap's Story

Ten-year-old Sreyleap walks confidently beside her mother to a vision centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s bustling capital. A year before, this simple journey would have been a challenge for the youngest of four siblings from Ream village, in Preah Sihanouk province. 

From the time she was a baby, Sreyleap’s parents noticed something wasn’t quite right. She blinked excessively, and by age three, her eyes began to twitch. As she grew older, her vision problems worsened, making it difficult to navigate daily life. Walking to school, reading the blackboard, or even recognising objects more than a few metres away became insurmountable tasks. 

A lifeline for sight 

Though her parents recognised the need for medical help, the cost of ongoing treatment was out of reach. But in 2023, hope arrived in the form of a community health worker who introduced Sreyleap’s family to Cambodia’s Identification of Poor Households Programme. 

This initiative enabled Sreyleap to access free eye care services at the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Hospital. It was here that she received a referral to the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh. Following a comprehensive eye examination, doctors diagnosed her with low vision, myopia (near-sightedness), and exotropia—a condition causing her eyes to misalign. 

For Sreyleap, the solution was as simple as a pair of prescription glasses. 

Life transformed 

The impact of the glasses has been life-changing. Now in Grade 2 at Sman Den Primary School, Sreyleap can see her lessons clearly, read books, and play with her friends. Tasks that once seemed impossible, like helping her mother with housekeeping, are now part of her daily routine. 

Her mother beams with pride, seeing her youngest child thriving. “I’m so happy to see her playing and learning like other children,” she said. 

While Sreyleap will need regular check-ups and care to manage her condition, she now faces the future with clarity and confidence. 

A bigger challenge 

Sreyleap’s story is one of hope, but it also highlights a wider issue in Cambodia. Many children across the country live with uncorrected refractive error, a common but treatable condition. Without timely intervention, these children often drop out of school, placing significant financial strain on their families and communities. 

To address this, The Fred Hollows Foundation, in partnership with the Cambodian Government, has implemented the Scaling Up Refractive Error Services (SURES) project. This initiative aims to improve access to affordable, quality eye care for underserved communities, ensuring children like Sreyleap have the opportunity to succeed. 

Through projects like SURES, families across Cambodia are breaking down barriers to essential eye care, transforming lives and futures one pair of glasses at a time.