At first glance, nothing suggests that 20-year-old Tojoniaina — known as Tojo to his friends — struggles to see clearly with one of his eyes.
When he was about 7 years old, Tojo suffered an injury to his left eye. What began as a bit of pain later developed into blurred vision, and months later he was diagnosed with a cataract at a local hospital. At the time, he could still see well enough to continue with school, and life carried on.
Years later, his condition worsened.
“When I was 16, I really started to feel a lot of pain,” he said. “We went back to the doctor. He told us that surgery was necessary, as there was no other solution.”
Bring hope and healing to others like Tojo
Despite this, Tojo pressed on with his University education. In his family, he is the only one to have pursued his studies to this extent, something that has molded his character and determination to continue.
He once dreamed of becoming a sailor, following in his father’s footsteps in the military. But his eyesight stood in the way and disqualified him.
“I can’t join the military or become a sailor, because to do that, you must go through a medical check-up,” he explained. “I took the military entrance test, but right away they saw that I couldn’t see with one of my eyes, so I wasn’t qualified for it.”
Choosing not to give up, Tojo set a new goal. He enrolled in a mathematics and computer science program at the university. But the challenges continued for him in school.
Much of his coursework required long hours of reading from screens or following projected lessons in class. The strain quickly became overwhelming.
“If I stare at something for too long, my eye starts getting red,” he said. “When I go outside, the things I see start to fade away.”
Beyond the physical pain, it began to affect how he saw his future.
“I’m putting in so much effort now, but I might become blind in the future. That would make all my efforts meaningless,” Tojo said. “I often come across people who have the same issue with their eyes. And I see that their cases are really serious. So, I start wondering, ‘Will I end up like them when I get older?’”
Even so, he kept going, attending classes, studying when he could, and adjusting as best as possible.
A turning point came when he heard about Mercy Ships.
“I was really happy because, since I was about 11 years old, I had hope,” he said. “I knew it was something that could be treated. I always had the desire to be treated one day.”
Tojo underwent surgery to remove the cataract in his left eye, a procedure described by surgeon Elie Abbey as particularly complex due to the earlier trauma.
“If he did not have the surgery, his vision would become increasingly blurred,” Dr. Abbey explained. “And eventually, he could become completely blind in that eye.”
In the weeks following surgery, Tojo began to notice changes.
“Since my surgery was completed, I’ve been able to do many things,” he said. “I no longer feel any pain when using a phone or looking at a screen for a long time.”
Reading and studying, once a source of strain and discomfort, has become much more manageable.
“When I read a book, I don’t have any trouble anymore,” Tojo shared. “I can honestly say my life has changed so much.”
Now with improved vision, Tojo can work towards the military career he’d attempted before.
“I believe that they will accept me this time,” he said. “I truly believe my eyesight issue won’t be a barrier anymore!”