José Zerón: A Second Chance to See

José Zerón dedicated his life to agriculture and construction. In 2009, his life changed drastically when he suffered an accident while working on the construction of a house.

“A steel nail rebounded and hit me while I was working. The accident damaged my cornea. They only did sutures on my left eye,” José recounted.

The injury was so severe that it left him without vision in that eye.

“I suffered for five years because after losing the vision in my eye, I could no longer do many of the jobs I used to,” he added.

During those five years, José faced difficulties and sought medical assistance, eventually finding the help he needed at CAMO.

“At CAMO and the Robles Ophthalmology Center, they valued me as a human being and gave me great care,” said José Zerón, a patient.

Thanks to a corneal transplant brigade organized by CAMO and the Robles Ophthalmology Center, José received the surgery that restored his hope.

After two postoperative evaluations, José continues his recovery. Although it is a long process, he feels optimistic.

José Zerón’s surgery, along with those of six other individuals, was made possible by a joint effort between CAMO and the Robles Ophthalmology Center.

This corneal transplant event in Santa Rosa de Copán provided a new chance at vision for patients with limited economic resources.

Dr. Laura Ponce, CAMO’s counterpart in the Ophthalmology Program, coordinated the brigade, which also included collaboration from doctors from the University of San Francisco: Jay Stewart, Jeremy Keenan, and Julie Schallhorn.

A corneal transplant is a surgical procedure in which a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced with a healthy donor cornea. The cornea is the transparent layer at the front of the eye that allows light to enter and focus, which is essential for clear vision.