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Eye Health Information Hub

Eye Health

Evidence-based guides on eye conditions, symptoms and treatment for UK readers — and why your donation funds sight-restoring surgery through locally-licensed ophthalmologists.

Quick answer

World Aid Network publishes plain-English guides to 12+ eye conditions — cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, trachoma and more — reviewed by a consultant ophthalmic surgeon, and funds sight-restoring surgery through locally-licensed ophthalmologists. Cataract alone causes roughly 51% of global blindness, and is curable with a 15–20 minute outpatient procedure.

2.2 billion

people with vision impairment globally

1 billion

cases that are preventable or treatable

51%

of global blindness caused by cataracts

12+

eye conditions covered in our guides

The most treatable cause of blindness

Why are cataracts curable in minutes only if you can afford it?

Cataract is responsible for 51% of global blindness — affecting approximately 100 million people worldwide. In high-income countries, cataract surgery is one of the most successful operations in medicine: a brief outpatient procedure that restores clear vision within days.

In Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia, the same surgery exists — but in private hospitals and clinics inaccessible to poor patients. For a family on an average income in Lahore or Jakarta, the cost of cataract surgery may represent weeks or months of wages. Without funded access, preventable blindness becomes permanent.

World Aid Network funds sight-restoring surgery through locally-licensed ophthalmologists, removing the financial barrier for patients who would otherwise lose their sight unnecessarily.

Gift of Sight Appeal Cataracts Guide

Vision outcomes: UK vs low-income countries

Cataracts
UK outcome Near-full vision restored
Low-income Permanent blindness
Glaucoma
UK outcome Vision preserved with treatment
Low-income Progressive, untreated vision loss
Diabetic Retinopathy
UK outcome Screened & treated via NHS
Low-income Often diagnosed late; vision loss likely
Trachoma
UK outcome Eliminated in high-income countries
Low-income Leading infectious cause of blindness

Sources: WHO, The Lancet Global Health, IAPB Vision Atlas.

Which eye condition guides can you read?

Plain-English guides covering symptoms, causes and treatment — reviewed by a consultant ophthalmic surgeon.

Eye health guide In-depth

Cataracts

The world's leading cause of blindness — and one short operation reverses it.

#1 cause of blindness Read
Eye health guide

Refractive error

The most common cause of vision impairment — usually fixed by a simple pair of glasses.

Most common vision problem Read
Eye health guide

Glaucoma

The 'silent thief of sight' — painless, but preventable if caught early.

Silent thief of sight Read
Eye health guide

Diabetic retinopathy

A leading cause of sight loss in working-age adults — and largely preventable.

Diabetes damaging the retina Read
Eye health guide

Trachoma

The world's leading infectious cause of blindness — and it is preventable.

Bacterial eye infection Read
Eye health guide

Macular degeneration (AMD)

The leading cause of central-vision loss in older adults — with treatable forms.

Central vision Read
Eye health guide In-depth

Childhood blindness

Around half of all childhood blindness is avoidable — and a child's whole life depends on catching it early.

~1.4 million Read
Eye health guide

Cataracts vs glaucoma

Two common causes of sight loss that are often confused — but one is reversible and one is not.

The lens Read
Why donate to World Aid Network?

Why do we fund surgery, not research?

The surgery that restores sight already exists. The problem is affordability — not knowledge. We fund the operation directly, so patients who cannot pay can still see.

Locally-Licensed Surgeons

All surgery is performed by fully qualified, locally-licensed ophthalmologists — PMDC in Pakistan, KKI in Indonesia, MMC in Malaysia. No volunteer surgeons, no overseas teams. Clinically rigorous, culturally embedded, and accountable to local medical councils.

The Treatment Already Exists

Cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment and trachoma management are all established, effective procedures. The barrier is not a lack of medical knowledge — it is the cost of surgery for poor patients. Your donation removes that barrier directly.

Sight Restored in Days

Unlike cancer treatment, which takes months, cataract surgery restores functional vision within days of a brief outpatient procedure. The impact of your donation is immediate and tangible — a patient who could not see can see.

Fund sight-restoring surgery today

How can you restore someone's sight?

A single cataract operation can restore sight that was failing for years — delivered by a locally-licensed ophthalmologist, funded by your donation. The surgery is ready. The patient is waiting.

£25 pre-op diagnostics £75 surgical consumables £150 partial surgery £250 full sight-restoring op
Donate Now Gift of Sight Appeal
Common questions

What are eye Health FAQs?

What does World Aid Network do to help people with eye conditions? +
World Aid Network funds sight-restoring eye surgery for poor patients who cannot afford care. All clinical services are delivered by locally-licensed ophthalmologists in Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia — the regions covered by our charitable Objects. We do not run our own clinics or overseas teams: all surgery is performed by qualified, locally-licensed surgeons.
What is the most common cause of preventable blindness worldwide? +
Cataract is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, responsible for approximately 51% of global blindness. In high-income countries, cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed and most successful procedures in medicine. In low-income countries, access is severely limited — many patients go blind simply because they cannot afford the operation.
How much does cataract surgery cost in developing countries? +
The cost of cataract surgery varies by country and hospital. In the regions where World Aid Network operates — Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia — surgery through a locally-licensed ophthalmologist in a registered hospital can cost the equivalent of several months' wages for a poor patient. World Aid Network funds the procedure so that patients who cannot pay can still receive treatment.
What is diabetic retinopathy and can it be treated? +
Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the blood vessels supplying the retina caused by high blood sugar over time. In its early stages it may cause no symptoms, but as it progresses it leads to blurred vision, floaters, and eventually blindness. Treatment includes laser photocoagulation, anti-VEGF injections and, in advanced cases, vitrectomy surgery. Early diagnosis through diabetic eye screening is critical — World Aid Network funds surgical intervention for diabetic retinopathy patients who cannot afford private ophthalmology.
What is the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist? +
An optometrist is a healthcare professional trained to examine eyes, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and detect certain eye conditions. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (surgeon) who has completed full medical training plus specialist surgical training in eye disease. Ophthalmologists perform surgery — cataract operations, glaucoma procedures, and retinal surgery. All surgery funded by World Aid Network is performed by fully qualified, locally-licensed ophthalmologists.
How often should I have an eye test? +
The NHS recommends a routine eye examination at least every two years for most adults. More frequent tests are recommended for: people with diabetes (annual diabetic eye screening via the NHS); anyone with a family history of glaucoma (more frequent monitoring from age 40); people aged 70 and over; and anyone who notices a change in their vision. Children should have their eyes tested before starting school and regularly thereafter.
When should I see an eye doctor urgently? +
Seek urgent assessment immediately if you notice: sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes; a sudden shower of new floaters or flashes of light; a curtain or shadow moving across your vision; a red, painful eye; or significant eye injury. These symptoms may indicate retinal detachment, acute angle-closure glaucoma, or other conditions that require prompt treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.
What are the early warning signs of glaucoma? +
In its most common form (primary open-angle glaucoma), glaucoma has no early symptoms — it is a 'silent' disease. Peripheral vision is lost gradually, often unnoticed until significant damage has occurred. This is why regular eye examinations are essential, as optometrists can detect raised intraocular pressure and early optic nerve changes before vision loss begins. Acute angle-closure glaucoma, by contrast, presents suddenly with severe eye pain, headache, nausea and a red eye — this is a medical emergency.
Can retinal detachment be treated? +
Yes — retinal detachment is a surgical emergency. If treated promptly, the retina can be reattached and useful vision preserved. Surgical options include pneumatic retinopexy, scleral buckling and vitrectomy. Outcomes depend heavily on how quickly treatment is received and whether the central (macular) area of the retina has detached. Symptoms — a sudden shower of floaters, flashes, or a curtain across vision — should prompt immediate assessment.
What causes age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? +
Age-related macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the macula — the central part of the retina responsible for detailed, central vision. It is most common in people over 65 and is the leading cause of vision loss in the UK. Risk factors include age, smoking, family history and cardiovascular disease. 'Wet' AMD (neovascular AMD) is treated with regular anti-VEGF injections; 'dry' AMD has no treatment but progresses more slowly. Unlike cataract, AMD is not primarily a condition of poverty — it is treated differently by World Aid Network's programme.
Can glaucoma be cured? +
Glaucoma cannot be cured — it is a lifelong condition. However, with early diagnosis and consistent treatment, vision loss can be prevented or significantly slowed. Treatment options include eye drops (prostaglandin analogues, beta-blockers), laser treatment (selective laser trabeculoplasty — SLT) and surgical drainage procedures including trabeculectomy. The key is early detection through regular eye examinations, as damage caused by glaucoma is irreversible.
What is trachoma and where is it found? +
Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It is transmitted through direct contact with eye or nasal secretions and is closely linked to poverty, overcrowding and lack of clean water. It remains the world's leading infectious cause of blindness, affecting communities across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. In the regions where World Aid Network operates, trachoma is one of the conditions our eye surgery programme addresses directly.
Is colour blindness treatable? +
Most colour blindness is hereditary (caused by mutations in genes encoding colour-sensing cone cells in the retina) and currently has no cure or surgical treatment. Some people with colour blindness use coloured filter lenses to improve colour discrimination in certain settings, but these do not restore normal colour vision. Acquired colour vision deficiency — caused by conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or optic nerve disease — may improve if the underlying condition is treated.
How does World Aid Network ensure surgical quality? +
All surgery is performed by ophthalmologists who hold current registration with their national medical council — PMDC in Pakistan, KKI in Indonesia, MMC in Malaysia — and is carried out in registered hospital facilities. We do not use volunteer or non-specialist surgeons. Partner hospitals are selected based on their clinical standards, accreditation and track record. Surgical outcomes and patient follow-up data are monitored as part of our grant conditions.
Why are eye health outcomes so much worse in developing countries? +
In the UK, the NHS provides access to ophthalmology services, free cataract surgery and NHS sight tests for eligible groups. In the regions World Aid Network operates, the same conditions — cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy — result in permanent blindness for many poor patients simply because surgery and treatment are unaffordable. The medicine exists; the barrier is financial. World Aid Network removes that barrier by funding surgery directly.

Medically Reviewed

Mr Mohamed Mohyudin — Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon MBChB BSc MSc FRCOphth CCT · GMC No. 7039600 · 16 years' experience · 5,000+ cataract surgeries · Double fellowship: Paediatric Ophthalmology & Oculoplastics · Bupa Fee-Assured & NHS Consultant, Yorkshire