The World Health Organization (WHO) is strongly encouraging nations to intensify their endeavors to guarantee that countless individuals experiencing cataracts can receive straightforward, sight-restoring surgical procedures – recognized as one of the most efficacious and economically viable interventions for averting preventable vision impairment.
A recent investigation, disseminated today in The Lancet Global Health, elucidates the magnitude of the predicament: a substantial proportion, nearly half, of all individuals globally afflicted by cataract-induced blindness still lack access to surgical treatment.
Cataracts, characterized by the opacification of the eye’s crystalline lens which leads to visual distortion and can ultimately result in sightlessness, impact over 94 million people worldwide. The surgical correction for cataracts, a brief 15-minute intervention, stands as one of medicine’s most cost-effective procedures, facilitating an immediate and enduring restoration of vision.
Over the course of the past two decades, the global prevalence of cataract surgery has seen an approximate 15% escalation. This occurred concurrently with increasing demand driven by aging demographics and a rise in cataract occurrences. Projections based on current data anticipate a further increase in cataract surgery coverage of roughly 8.4% throughout the present decade. Nevertheless, the pace of advancement must significantly quicken to achieve the World Health Assembly’s objective of a 30% augmentation by the year 2030.
Restoring sight via cataract surgery represents one of our most potent instruments for transforming lives. When individuals regain their vision, they reclaim their autonomy, dignity, and opportunities.”
Devora Kestel, Interim Director, WHO Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health
The study, which involved an analysis of reports from 68 national estimates for 2023 and 2024, indicates that the African Region confronts the most significant deficit, with three out of every four individuals requiring cataract surgery remaining untreated. Across all geographical areas, women bear a disproportionate burden, consistently experiencing reduced access to medical care compared to men.
These disparities are indicative of deeply entrenched systemic impediments. These include scarcity and uneven distribution of qualified ophthalmic specialists, substantial out-of-pocket expenditures, prolonged waiting periods, and a deficit in awareness or patient initiative for surgical intervention, even in locales where services are available.
Furthermore, while advanced age constitutes the primary risk determinant for cataracts, additional contributing factors such as protracted exposure to UV-B radiation, the consumption of tobacco, the use of corticosteroids, and diabetes can expedite their development.
Strategies for Bridging the Deficit
The eradication of preventable blindness stemming from cataracts is an imperative and attainable goal. Nations can hasten their progress by integrating visual acuity assessments and ocular examinations into foundational healthcare services, allocating resources toward indispensable surgical infrastructure, and augmenting and optimizing the deployment of the eye-care workforce, particularly in rural and underserved territories.
Concerted initiatives focused on prioritizing women and marginalized demographic groups will prove instrumental in mitigating persistent inequalities and ensuring that advancements in accessibility benefit all segments of the population.
The WHO is issuing an appeal to governmental bodies, civil society organizations, and collaborative partners to build upon the existing momentum, address gender- and geography-based disparities, and give precedence to populations that are currently underserved. Through sustained dedication, cataract surgery can transition from being an inaccessible treatment for millions to a universally available intervention, thereby contributing to the global elimination of avoidable blindness.
