International Cataract Program
Restoring Sight
Cataracts, a clouding of the lens of an eye, are the largest cause of blindness worldwide, affecting 100 million people. But the good news is that this leading form of blindness can be treated with surgery.
A simple 20-minute surgery can restore someone’s vision within 24 hours.
Since 1984, our International Cataract Program has supported over 3,664,224 adult vision screenings and more than 430,000 surgeries.
Nearly 50% of all blindness is caused by cataracts, with 90% occurring in low-income countries.
Creating a Ripple Effect
Cataracts are a public health, social, and economic problem.
Vision loss due to cataracts dramatically impacts individuals, their families and their communities. In the countries we serve, cataract patients and their families often face poverty due to loss of household income.
Low and middle-income countries lose millions in GDP every year due to blindness.
Restoring vision improves a person’s well-being, and it helps break the cycle of poverty through greater opportunities for work and education.