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Narangoda resident H.K. Beling faced the nightmare of losing vision in his right eye but his luck changed when he met a Kandy opthalmologist
Sight saved when all seemed lost
By Vidushi Seneviratne
“Of all the senses, sight must be the most delightful,” said Helen Keller, American author, activist, and lecturer who faced many physical challenges at an early age.

To lose your sight suddenly must be an almost incomprehensible blow, and this is what H.K Beling experienced just over a year ago. A resident of Narangoda, a village just off the Giriulla town, Beling, 44, was faced with an unusual situation, when he suddenly began to lose sight in his right eye.

“At first it seemed like some dust had gone into my eye, but then I felt it itching and my eye began tearing continuously. Since it was impossible for me to even keep my eye open, my relatives took me to the Dambadeniya government hospital and later on to Kuliyapitiya,” he says, adding that both places informed him that the eye was badly affected and he was directed to visit an eye specialist in Colombo for treatment.

“So I got to the Colombo Eye Hospital and was examined by a specialist there. After being warded for over a month at the hospital, I was told that ninety percent of the eye was damaged and even if a transplant was done, the chances of it being successful were very slim,” he said. Nevertheless the surgery was carried out in June 2004, but without positive results.

Not giving up, Beiling then tried several private hospitals and was repeatedly told that there was no hope of saving his eye. “Every time I visited the doctors, I kept getting another consultation date, usually about five months later,” he said. Having heard about Dr. Reggie Seimon, a renowned consultant ophthalmologist, Beiling visited him in Kandy and was examined by the doctor, who amazingly informed the patient that his eye could be saved.

“Once I examined him, it was evident that his cornea was damaged. This part is like the window to the eye,” explained Dr. Seimon. “Though he had already got a graft done, it was not successful and I told him that I could perform the surgery, if they could supply me with a cornea,” he said.

The surgery was a success and the patient is regaining sight in his right eye. “The sight has to gradually develop and he seems to be making good progress,” said Dr. Seimon. The operation was performed at Suwa Sevana, in Kandy, where Dr. Seimon practises now.

What is even more praiseworthy is the fact that the entire procedure cost the patient next to nothing. “Normally consultants charge exorbitant amounts, but I finally got my eye sight back, having spent just fifty rupees for a consultation, the surgery being completely free of charge. For people like us, this is an unbelievable service and I would like to extend my gratitude to this wonderful human being,” said an emotional Beling, who lives with his wife and seven-year-old son.

“I don’t generally charge my patients for single cornea grafts mainly because once this surgery is done, they need to stay on in hospital for quite some time and that would be a huge drain on them economically,” says Dr. Seimon.
In an age where even human life is compromised for economical benefits, Beling feels that doctors such as Dr. Seimon are rare.

Among his other charitable ventures, Dr. Seimon has written a book of short stories titled “Of Days Gone By” and also produced a CD where you could listen to his talents on the trumpet, saxophone and clarinet. The proceeds of both these projects will be going to the Sri Lanka Eye Foundation, which supports the visually handicapped.

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