Born with cataracts, Futhani Zimvo and Nophuza Nkoliso had always seen the world as a dark blur. Living in rural Eastern Cape, accessing eye care was an immense hurdle until Grace Vision visited their school and changed everything! They were flown to Cape Town to receive life-changing eye surgeries, and when those bandages were removed, there were tears, joy and disbelief!
Eastern Cape, South Africa (31 October 2025) – Two six-year-olds, Futhani Zimvo and Nophuza Nkoliso, were born with cataracts that have clouded their sight since birth.
Without urgent surgery, their chance of seeing the world clearly, or for the very first time, could be lost forever. But thankfully, help came from those determined to restore sight and provide quality eye care to the most remote parts of the country.
Both children were identified during Grace Vision’s routine school screening programme in the rural Eastern Cape.
“Since 2014, Grace Vision has screened more than 154,875 learners across deeply rural communities where access to even basic healthcare is limited. During one of these visits, our Schools Team flagged both Zimvo and Nophuza for further assessment and referred them to our Mobile Clinic truck, where our optometrist confirmed the diagnosis of congenital cataracts requiring urgent surgical intervention,” Grace Vision Media and Brand Manager, Keegan Meistre, shares with us.
Thanks to the incredible partnership between Grace Vision, CURE Day Hospital Foreshore, Dr Claire Kennedy, Right to Sight Trust, Alcon, Blind Loyalty, HCI Foundation, Zenzele NPC, and Adcock Ingram, these two children were flown to Cape Town to receive life-changing cataract surgeries that have now afforded them the chance to see the world clearly for the first time.
“Their surgeries went exceptionally well. Both procedures were successful, and their recoveries are progressing beautifully.”
For the children, the journey to sight was exciting and overwhelming. For their families, this experience was deeply emotional and transformative.
“Many of them had begun to lose hope that their children would ever regain sight. The gratitude they have expressed has been overwhelming and reminds us daily why this work is so important,” Keegans explains.
As the bandages were gently lifted post-surgery, Futhani got to enjoy colour and clarity. For Nophuza, a first glimpse into a world he’d only imagined. There were tears, smiles and disbelief!
“I feel truly blessed to be involved in a project like this. Even though this is the first time Grace Vision has undertaken something of this nature, the success we have seen from these two cases has sparked something new, something we are committed to building on. We have already started identifying more children living with congenital cataracts, whom we hope to assist in the coming months,” Keegan shares on the life-changing experience.
“Once you witness the change this kind of surgery brings to a child’s life, you cannot help but want to reach as many of these amazing young ones as possible. The difference is breathtaking. Children who were once withdrawn, quiet, and lacking confidence suddenly come alive after surgery; they have a fresh sense of hope, confidence, and joy that fills the room. To be even a small part of that transformation is an experience that is very hard to put into words. It reminds you why this work matters so deeply, and how life-changing restored sight truly is.”
Watch a video of Futhani and Nophuza’s beautiful journey here.
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