An ophthalmologist has stepped up to carry out an operation on a learner who is on the verge of losing his eyesight.

The good Samaritan responded after seeing a social media post about Ruston !Gudaob, a grade four pupil at Shalom Primary School in Otavi.

Ruston's ordeal began at the age of four when he was allegedly poked in the left eye with a stick by a peer while they were playing.

His grandmother, Petrina !Gudaos recalled the incident and said the eye had to be removed as a result. 

"They were collecting empty cans when a boy sitting next to him stood up and poked him in the eye with a stick. He began to cry, and when I went to check on him, I saw blood and fluid coming from his eye."

What pained her most was that she did not have the means to assist her grandson.

Since then, the incident has affected Ruston's right eye as well, with his vision weakening. 

"Additionally, he frequently complains of headaches, which subside temporarily, only to return after some time," she said.

His teacher, Agnella Kheimses, took him for an eye check-up, which revealed retinal bleeding.

She explained that "the doctor who examined him mentioned that it might be possible he bumped his head, which could have caused the bleeding in his eye. I asked the grandmother, and she confirmed that sometimes, when it's dark, he struggles to see well and bumps his head. So, we were advised to seek immediate assistance from an eye specialist."

An ophthalmologist has since come on board and will be conducting the test on the 14th of April in Windhoek. 

Rutson will be travelling to Windhoek with his teacher, Kheimses, and efforts are being made to secure funds for accommodation and transportation costs.

Kheimses remains hopeful that the operation will save Rutson's vision.