A mother’s miracle in UAE: Indonesian expat regains sight and sees her children again

Abu Dhabi: After five long years of worsening vision, 34-year-old Indonesian mother of two, Ellyzabeth Bella Lukitasari, has finally regained her sight, thanks to a series of advanced eye surgeries at Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi, part of the M42 network.

Ellyzabeth, who relocated to the UAE with her family three years ago, had been living with a glaucoma diagnosis originally made in Indonesia. Despite using medication and daily eye drops, her vision continued to decline.

“Every month, the world looked a little foggier. I worried that one day, I wouldn’t even recognise my children’s faces,” she recalled.

That fear nearly came true. According to her husband, Mochamad Soleh Wicaksono, her vision was so poor that she could no longer see more than three metres ahead. “She started recognising people by their voices, not their faces,” he said.

Everything changed

But everything changed when Ellyzabeth underwent a comprehensive eye assessment at Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi. Under the care of Dr Usman Mahmood, Consultant Ophthalmologist, doctors discovered not only advanced glaucoma, but also dense cataracts and a significant squint (strabismus) that had gone previously unaddressed.

A life-changing moment

Ellyzabeth underwent a tailored, multi-stage surgical plan. First came cataract surgery in both eyes to clear her optical pathway. Once her vision sstabilised Dr Irfan Khan, Consultant Ophthalmologist, performed squint correction surgery to realign her eyes and restore proper binocular function.

“When the bandages came off, the first thing I saw was my daughter’s smile,” Ellyzabeth said through tears. “It was a moment I will never forget. It felt like I was seeing the world for the first time. A blessing beyond words.”

Her husband echoed the emotion: “Thank you to Moorfields. You gave us our lives back. My wife used to know people by their voicesm but now she sees them again. That’s a miracle.”

High-precision care

Dr Mahmood eemphasisedthe importance of precision in treating complex cases. “Addressing the cataracts first allowed us to get accurate measurements for the second surgery,” he explained. “Her improved vision and quality of life are the result of true collaboration across sub-sspecialities”

Dr Khan added: “There’s a misconception that strabismus surgery can’t be performed on people with poor vision. That’s simply not true. If done correctly, the benefits can be life-long, as Ellyzabeth’s case shows.”

Nearly impossible

Had the surgeries not been performed, specialists estimate Ellyzabeth would have eventually lost most of her functional vision, endering everyday tasks like caring for her children or navigating safely nearly impossible.

Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi draws on more than 200 years of heritage from its London counterpart, offering cutting-edge ophthalmic diagnostics and treatment to patients across the Middle East and beyond.