The majority of patients come to LFEC from the Western Highlands of Guatemala, and Southern Chiapas, Mexico. This region is primarily indigenous Maya and approximately 75 percent of the population lives in poverty. Education is limited, and 33 percent of the rural indigenous population cannot read or write, leaving manual labor as a means to earn a living. Working in the fields is most common, spending 12+ hours in direct sunshine. The constant exposure to harsh sunlight creates cataracts, growths on the eye, and other scenarios which eventually lead to blindness. A typical day’s earnings in rural Guatemala is less than $2. When a family member goes blind, not only are they unable to contribute to the family’s earnings, they also require additional care, which takes other family members away from earning money.