Gaza Hospital Restores Hope Through Artificial Eye Programme
The Ophthalmological Hospital in Gaza City is helping patients who lost their eyes during the war regain part of their daily lives through a rare artificial eye fitting service.
Footage filmed on Monday shows doctors fitting artificial eyes for patients.
“A shard entered my eye, and I lost my vision,” said Baghdad Miqdad, who lost one of her eyes when her home was bombed on October 22, 2024.
Miqdad said finding treatment in Gaza was extremely difficult, and the injury affected her ability to study, work and communicate with others.
“I am happy,” she said after receiving the artificial eye, adding that she hoped it would help her return to normal life.
Medical Teams Face Supply Challenges
Hossam Dawood, director of the Ophthalmological Hospital, said the programme was the first artificial eye initiative of its kind at the medical facility in Gaza, carried out by a specialised team of ophthalmologists, optometrists and psychologists who support patients before and after the fitting.
Ophthalmologist Marwa Ramadan said the hospital relies on artificial eyes supplied by medical delegations and international organisations, but added that the quantities received are still far below patients’ needs.
“In addition, we face obstacles, such as the fact that these eyes are pre-manufactured in factories outside the country, and therefore they may not be suitable for patients here in terms of shape, size, and colour,” she said.
Hospital Services Resume Amid Ongoing Conflict
The initiative comes as the Ophthalmological Hospital gradually resumes services after months of devastation across Gaza. Last Wednesday, doctors carried out the hospital’s first two successful corneal transplant surgeries since the start of the war.
The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led attacks killed 1,139 people, most of them Israeli civilians, and saw more than 200 others taken hostage.
Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign in Gaza, including air strikes and a ground offensive. As of the time of publication, 72,797 Palestinians had been killed and 172,821 injured.
In January, US envoy Steve Witkoff announced the launch of the second phase of former President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the conflict in Gaza. The plan includes moving from a ceasefire towards disarmament, forming a technocratic administration and beginning reconstruction.
Article by Viory
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