The sunset from Narita

on the last day of our trip, en route back to San Francisco. How strange it will be to be back home after 3 months of traveling!

The staff at AB Eye Clinic

The holy ganga river

Gandhi ghat in Patna

Antarjyoti

Meaning "inner light," Antarjyoti is a school for blind girls (the only one of its kind in the state of Bihar). The doctors we are working/staying with played a part in its creation (and stay involved to this day). There are currently ~80 young women studying here, free of charge. It is a truly beautiful place. I wish we could have spent more time with these amazing young women!

After surgery

patients need to be examined, given eye drops, and dark glasses to wear. Hitesh giving post-op care.

Patients waiting for their free eye surgery

Eye Camp Hanuman temple, Old Patna

The Rotary Club's Inner Wheel group organized a free eye camp (or eye screening day) at a temple in Old Patna. Upon our arrival, we were blessed (note the garlands and tilaka) , and then all the waiting patients were screened. Those with cataracts were scheduled for free surgeries in the upcoming weeks.

Charity Clinics - Danapur

Patients waiting to be seen at the Danapur charity clinic.

Giving a patient a pair of eyeglasses.




























Me and one of the optometrists, Abishek.

Daily Charity Clinics

Since many of the very poor cannot afford to travel, the eye doctors we were working with travel to far-flung areas of Patna on a daily basis. While we were volunteering, we accompanied them to do vision screenings, and distribute reading glasses. These clinics were one of the highlights of our time in Patna! Depending on the location of the charity clinic, they would take place in various donated spaces, from a room at the Red Cross center, to a general practice/family doctor's office, to a temple, etc . Here's a shot from the Red Cross clinic that takes place on Mondays.

Pawapuri

As volunteers, we had one day off per week (Sundays). Our first Sunday, we were able to visit Pawapuri, a sacred site for Jains. A beautiful temple has been built there.

On our first day as volunteers...

we found ourselves getting dressed in scrubs and assisting with free cataracts surgeries. We helped the patients enter and exit the operating room (which is called the operation theatre or OT for short), as well as with applying eye drops and bandaging the eyes post surgery. I have to admit I started feeling a little unwell during the first surgeries (like I might faint) but after getting some air and reentering the OT, I was fine.