YouTube star MrBeast helps 1,000 blind people see again by supporting cataract surgery | CNN
CNN
—
Mr Beast YouTube superstar is making the world brighter – for at least 1,000 people.
The Content Creator’s Latest Talent Show Paid for 1,000 cataract surgeries for people who were blind or near blind, but could not pay for surgery.
“We are treating thousands of blind people,” MrBeast, real name Jimmy Donaldson, said in a video Saturday. which had more than 32 million views as of Sunday afternoon.
The video touches the before and after footage of patients who can see clearly after the operation. YouTube users also donate money and other gifts. given to some of the participants.
Jeff Levenson, Ophthalmologist and surgeonWorking with Donaldson to perform the first round of surgery in Jacksonville, Florida, Levenson coordinated “Gifts of Sight” Project For more than 20 years, providing free cataract surgery for uninsured patients who are blind due to legal cataracts.
“Half of all blind people in the world are people who need 10 minutes of surgery,” Levenson said in the video. Referring to surgery to remove cataracts.
Levenson explained to CNN that he was inspired to help people access cataract surgery after undergoing cataract surgery on his own.
“In the days and weeks following cataract surgery, I was fascinated by how beautiful and bright the world was,” he says. “But I was shocked at the thought that there were hundreds of millions, maybe 200 million people around the world. who are blind or near-blind from cataracts and do not have access to surgery.”
Levenson received a call from a member of Donaldson’s team in September. “I had never heard of MrBeast,” he said, “so I almost hung up. But I am very thankful that I didn’t hang up.”
They started by calling homeless shelters and free clinics to build a list of patients in the Jacksonville area who needed cataract surgery but couldn’t afford it. And Levenson performed the entire operation in one day, starting at 7:00 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m.
Levenson said the patient is in “The disbelief that someone would find them to save them from blindness. And then there was a kind and generous heart in surgery.”
An ophthalmologist is also connected to Donaldson’s team. see international where he served as chief medical officer The nonprofit provides free eye care worldwide to patients in need. The organization helps Donaldson reach more patients. For all 1,000 surgeries completed in three weeks. The video shows patients undergoing surgery in Jamaica, Honduras, Namibia, Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam and Kenya.
Levenson said he hopes Donaldson’s video and generosity will inspire. “A concerted effort to end unnecessary blindness”
“If MrBeast can light a fire And if we get support from the public and private sectors We will be able to end the half-blindness in the world,” he said, “without spending that much. and with incredible increases in human productivity and human potential.”
