Nearly one in two people worldwide who are at risk of cataract-related blindness still do not have access to sight-restoring surgery, the World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted, urging countries to urgently accelerate efforts to expand coverage of one of the most effective and affordable medical interventions available.
A new study published in The Lancet Global Health underscores the scale of the challenge, showing that despite decades of progress, access to cataract surgery remains insufficient in many parts of the world. Cataract — the clouding of the eye’s lens that leads to blurred vision and, if untreated, blindness — affects more than 94 million people globally.
The surgical procedure to treat it typically takes about 15 minutes and delivers immediate and long-lasting restoration of sight.
Global coverage of cataract surgery has increased by around 15% over the past 20 years. However, this improvement has not kept pace with rising demand driven by ageing populations and a growing number of cataract cases. Current modelling projects that coverage will rise by only 8.4% during this decade, far below the World Health Assembly’s target of a 30% increase by 2030.
The study analysed data from 68 country estimates for 2023 and 2024 and revealed pronounced regional and gender disparities. The African Region faces the largest treatment gap, with nearly three out of four people who need cataract surgery remaining untreated. Across all regions, women continue to have lower access to cataract care than men.
WHO highlighted that these gaps reflect long-standing structural barriers, including shortages and unequal distribution of trained eye-care professionals, high out-of-pocket costs, long waiting times, and limited awareness or demand for surgery even in areas where services are available.
While age is the primary risk factor for cataract, other factors such as prolonged exposure to UV-B radiation, tobacco use, corticosteroid use, and diabetes can accelerate the condition, increasing the burden on health systems and affected communities.
Ending avoidable blindness caused by cataract has been identified as both achievable and essential. WHO emphasised the need for countries to integrate vision screening and routine eye examinations into primary health care, invest in essential surgical infrastructure, and expand and better distribute the eye-care workforce, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Targeted efforts to prioritise women and marginalised populations were highlighted as critical to addressing persistent inequities.
WHO called on governments, civil society and partners to strengthen commitments, address geographic and gender gaps, and ensure that cataract surgery becomes universally accessible, helping millions regain their sight and independence worldwide.
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