Helper in Mindoro who went partially blind after employer's abuse unlikely to recover vision, says doctor

The helper in Mindoro who went partially blind after allegedly suffering abuse at the hands of her employer is unlikely to regain her vision, according to an ophthalmologist.

At the Senate justice and human rights committee hearing on the abuse suffered by Elvie Vergara on Tuesday, Dra. Airene Oloroso of Batangas Medical Center told senators that the victim’s left eye had already shrunk and is no longer functional.

Oloroso conducted an eye examination on Vergara on August 15. 

“Nag-shrink na 'yung mata. Non-functional na. Non-seeing eye na po talaga...May mga other causes din po but it could also be trauma,” the doctor said.

“Pwedeng accident. Pwedeng nabutas siya previously tapos di na na-repair tapos kusa na lang siya nag-shrink,” she said.

As for the victim’s right eye, Oloroso said it was under “poor prognosis” and there is a “slight chance” for recovery. She also said Vergara has a swollen cornea on her right eye.

“Initial plan namin for the patient is first, remove the cataract. It's a stage procedure we will re-evaluate after the surgery kung kakayanin ng mata niya. We cannot [do] a one sitting na surgery kasi ang problem niya pati cornea niya may problema,” she said.

“Pati retina niya may problema. Baka lalo siyang mag-shrink 'yung right eye nya. We have to wait for sometime kung kakayanin niya 'yung first surgery which is the removal of the cataract,” the doctor said.

“As of now, ang right niya po ay light reception na lang. Ilaw na lang po talaga. Halos wala na rin po siyang makita,” she added.

For their part, Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Tolentino, and Raffy Tulfo promised to cover the medical expenses for Vergara’s eye operation at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila.

“Sasagutin na namin ni Senator Raffy at Senator Tolentino 'yung pagpapagamot ninyo...Maibalik lang ang inyong paningin. Wala na kayong iintindihin sa gastos basta ipapa-operahan,” Estrada said.

The victim thanked the legislators, saying: “Kahit saan basta mapagaling ang mata ko. Gusto ko lang po makakita.”

The Senate panel earlier issued a subpoena on Vergara’s employers after the 44-year-old victim went blind and acquired numerous scars all over her body due to alleged abuse.  She recalled her traumatic experiences in an episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.”

Vergara and her family have filed cases of serious illegal detention, trafficking, and serious physical injuries against her employers.—Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News