A football destroyed his vision. A corn leaf almost cost the other his eyesight as a toddler. For decades, two men had to live with severe vision problems. Now, medicine in northern Peru has given them a new chance!
PIURA (PERU) – What a joyful moment! Miguel Terrones Tejada (62) and Armando Quezada (58) can see again with their previously severely damaged eyes following successful corneal transplants. At the Instituto Peruano de Oftalmología (IPO) of EsSalud in Piura, doctors achieved what both had long hoped for.
A football hit his eye – then the drama began!
For Miguel Terrones Tejada from Trujillo, everything changed about five years ago. During a football match, a ball hit him in the eye with full force. His vision continued to deteriorate. Eventually, it became clear that only a corneal transplant could help him.
Miguel waited three long years for a suitable donor cornea! He could hardly afford private treatment. The uncertainty burdened his daily life, his work, and his future.
Then the relieving news finally arrived: a matching cornea was available! The doctors in Piura performed the transplant successfully. His vision improved, and the hope for a normal working life returned as well.
A corn leaf injured him as a baby – 57 years later, salvation came!
Armando Quezada (58) from Áncash was just one year old when a fateful accident occurred. While his mother was working in a field, a corn leaf injured his right eye. His vision remained severely impaired.
Armando had to cope with this injury for almost his entire life! He went to school, worked, and managed his daily routine. Yet the affected eye remained a constant problem. Only decades later did he receive the chance for a corneal transplant.
The specialists in Piura operated on him successfully. After more than five decades, Armando was able to see with his right eye again. For the 58-year-old, the procedure meant an enormous change in his life to date.
The secret behind the rescue: A donated cornea
The cornea is the transparent layer at the front of the eye. Among other things, it ensures that light is properly focused. If it is severely damaged by an accident or disease, vision can diminish dramatically.
In a corneal transplant, doctors replace the damaged tissue, either entirely or partially, with healthy tissue from a deceased donor. Such an operation requires great experience, a suitable donor cornea, and careful follow-up care.
Even after a successful transplant, regular check-ups are necessary. How well vision develops in the long term varies from patient to patient.
25 surgeries! Piura's ophthalmologists fight for every sight
The two men are not the only patients who could be helped in Piura. According to the newspaper *Correo*, 25 corneal transplants have already been performed at the EsSalud Piura Eye Institute since the beginning of 2026. In September alone, there were 13 procedures.
The patients came from various parts of northern Peru, including Tumbes, Cajamarca, Trujillo, Sullana, Talara, and Catacaos. For many people, the facility is an important point of contact, as specialized eye surgeries are by no means available everywhere in Peru.
The institute thus plays a crucial role in the medical care of the Piura Department and the surrounding regions.
Distressing figure: More than 6,000 people waiting for a cornea!
While Miguel and Armando are finding hope again, thousands of other Peruvians continue to struggle with severe vision problems. More than 6,000 people are waiting for a donor cornea in Peru! Behind this number are patients hoping for an operation.
In Piura, more than 152,000 people have already documented their willingness to donate organs and tissues on their Peruvian national ID card, the DNI. However, the need remains enormous.
Without suitable donor corneas, even highly trained specialists cannot help many patients.
Moving decision: Armando now wants to become an organ donor himself!
After his successful operation, Armando Quezada made a special decision. He wants to register as an organ donor himself. The 58-year-old wants to record his consent on his DNI and talk to his family about his decision.
Miguel Terrones Tejada also expressed his gratitude to the donors' families. Behind every transplanted cornea lies the decision of an individual or their relatives to help others after death.
Two men have been given a new chance because of it. Their stories illustrate how closely medical progress and human helpfulness are linked.
Northern Peru celebrates two medical success stories
For Miguel and Armando, the success of the operations is far more than just medical news. One can look forward to his professional future with more hope after years of severe vision problems. The other is experiencing an improvement in his vision after an early childhood injury, something he had to wait more than five decades for.
The two stories show how important specialized medicine and organ donations are for the people in northern Peru. At the same time, they remind us that thousands of patients are still waiting for a suitable donor cornea.
Anyone wanting to learn more about the setting of this success story can find further information about the city of Piura at PeruMagazin.
Two patients, two difficult fates, and finally light in their lives again!
