A new study published in The Lancet Global Health on February 11, 2026 reveals that nearly half of all people facing cataract-related blindness worldwide still cannot access sight-restoring surgery, despite the procedure being one of the simplest and most cost-effective in modern medicine.
Cataract, the clouding of the eye’s lens that gradually blurs vision and leads to blindness, currently affects more than 94 million people globally. Yet the surgical solution requires just 15 minutes and offers immediate, lasting restoration of sight.
“Cataract surgery is one of the most powerful tools we have to restore vision and transform lives,” said Devora Kestel, Acting Director of the WHO Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health. “When people regain their sight, they regain independence, dignity, and opportunity.”
The study, which analyzed reports from 68 countries for 2023 and 2024, shows that while global cataract surgery coverage has improved by about 15 percent over the past two decades, rising demand from aging populations has outpaced progress. Current modelling projects only an 8.4 percent increase this decade far below the World Health Assembly target of 30 percent by 2030.
The African Region faces the widest gap. Three out of four people in need of cataract surgery on the continent remain untreated. Women are disproportionately affected across every region, consistently facing lower access to care than men.
These gaps are not technical but structural. Shortages and unequal distribution of trained eye-care professionals, high out-of-pocket costs, long waiting times, and limited awareness or demand for surgery all contribute—even where services formally exist.
Beyond age, which is the primary risk factor, prolonged UV-B exposure, tobacco use, corticosteroid use, and diabetes can accelerate cataract development, adding urgency to prevention efforts.
WHO is now calling on governments and partners to integrate vision screening into primary health care, invest in surgical infrastructure, and expand the eye-care workforce into rural and underserved areas. The agency stresses that targeted efforts to prioritize women and marginalized communities are essential.
With cataract surgery already proven effective and affordable, the gap is no longer about knowledge or technology. It is about political will. The goal, WHO states, is clear: move cataract surgery from out of reach for millions to a universally accessible intervention, and help end avoidable blindness worldwide.
Source WHO
