WHO Urges Action as Half of Cataract Patients Worldwide Lack Access to Sight-Saving Surgery

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on nations worldwide to intensify efforts in providing cataract surgery access to millions of people currently living with preventable blindness caused by the condition.

A newly published study in The Lancet Global Health has revealed alarming statistics: nearly one in every two persons suffering from cataract-related blindness across the globe is yet to receive surgical treatment. Cataract, which occurs when the eye's lens becomes clouded resulting in blurred vision and potential blindness, currently affects over 94 million people globally.

The procedure to correct cataract is remarkably straightforward—a simple 15-minute operation that ranks among the most cost-effective medical interventions available, offering patients immediate and lasting restoration of their eyesight.

Over the past twenty years, global coverage of cataract surgery has seen a modest increase of approximately 15%, despite growing demand driven by ageing populations and rising cataract cases. Current modelling projections indicate coverage will increase by roughly 8.4% throughout this decade. However, this pace falls significantly short of the World Health Assembly target, which aims for a 30% increase by the year 2030.

Speaking on the matter, Devora Kestel, Director a.i. of the WHO Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, emphasised the transformative power of this medical procedure. Cataract surgery is one of the most powerful tools we have to restore vision and transform lives. When people regain their sight, they regain independence, dignity, and opportunity, she stated.

The comprehensive study, which analysed reports from 68 countries using estimates from 2023 and 2024, highlights significant regional disparities. The African Region faces the most severe gap, with three out of four individuals requiring cataract surgery remaining untreated. Gender inequality is also pronounced, with women across all regions consistently experiencing lower access to care compared to men.

These persistent gaps stem from long-standing structural barriers, including shortages of trained eye-care professionals and their unequal geographical distribution, high out-of-pocket costs for patients, lengthy waiting times, and limited public awareness or demand for surgical intervention even where services are available.

Beyond advancing age, other factors contributing to cataract development include prolonged exposure to UV-B radiation, tobacco use, corticosteroid medication use, and diabetes—all of which can accelerate the condition's progression.

To close these gaps and end unnecessary blindness from cataract, WHO recommends several key strategies. Countries should integrate vision screening and comprehensive eye examinations into primary health care services, invest in essential surgical infrastructure, and expand the eye-care workforce with particular focus on better distribution to rural and underserved areas.

Targeted programmes prioritising women and marginalised communities will prove critical in reducing persistent inequities and ensuring that progress in surgical access benefits all segments of society.

WHO is urging governments, civil society organisations, and international partners to build upon existing momentum, address gender and geographic disparities, and give priority to underserved populations. With sustained commitment and strategic investment, cataract surgery can transition from being inaccessible for millions to becoming a universally available intervention—helping to eliminate avoidable blindness worldwide.

The study, titled Effective cataract surgical coverage in adults aged 50 years and older: empirical estimates from population-based surveys in 68 countries and modelled estimates for 2000-2030, was published on 10 February 2026.