Sponsor Cataract Surgery —
Restore Sight for £200
For £200, you can sponsor a complete cataract operation — permanently restoring sight for a patient who cannot afford private care in Pakistan, Indonesia or Malaysia. Your gift covers the surgeon, intraocular lens, consumables, anaesthesia and post-operative follow-up. Nothing is left outstanding.
Quick answer
Sponsoring cataract surgery through World Aid Network costs about £200 and funds one complete sight-saving operation — surgeon, intraocular lens, consumables, anaesthesia and follow-up — at a partner hospital in Pakistan, Indonesia or Malaysia. Funds go to the hospital, never as cash to individuals. Card donations are open now; Gift Aid starts when registration is granted.
What your £200 pays for
A sponsored operation covers every element of the procedure — from pre-operative assessment through to post-operative follow-up. Nothing is left for the patient to pay.
Pre-operative assessment
IncludedVisual acuity and biometry measurement to calculate the precise intraocular lens power needed for the individual patient's eye.
Surgeon's fees
IncludedThe ophthalmologist performing the procedure — registered with the national medical council of the operating country (PMDC, KKI or MMC).
Intraocular lens (IOL)
~£25The artificial lens that replaces the clouded natural lens. Without this, surgery cannot restore vision. Standard monofocal IOL — the same class used in NHS cataract surgery.
Sterile surgical consumables
~£40Single-use sterile drapes, irrigation fluid, phacoemulsification tip, viscoelastic and other consumables required for each operation.
Anaesthesia
IncludedTypically topical local anaesthetic eye drops, administered by the surgical team. Safe, quick, and allows the patient to return home the same day.
Post-operative medications
~£15Antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection and anti-inflammatory drops to support healing — required for several weeks after surgery.
Follow-up appointment
IncludedAt least one post-operative visit to confirm visual acuity outcome and check for complications. Outcome data is reported back to World Aid Network trustees.
Theatre and hospital fees
~£60Operating theatre time, nursing staff, sterilisation, and hospital facility costs at the partner hospital.
How do you choose how many operations to sponsor?
Each £200 sponsors one complete operation. Give any multiple to increase your impact.
How the sponsorship process works
Your donation arrives
Your gift is received and held in World Aid Network's restricted fund. No money is disbursed until a patient list is trustee-approved.
Trustees approve patients
Partner hospitals submit named patient lists. Trustees review clinical justification and confirm that each patient meets the programme's eligibility criteria.
Surgery is funded
Payment goes directly to the partner hospital via bank transfer against the approved patient list. The surgeon performs the operation and submits a post-operative outcome report.
Sponsor operations every month
A monthly gift of £17–£20 accumulates over 10–12 months to sponsor one complete operation per year. A £200 monthly gift sponsors approximately one operation every month. Regular giving lets us plan surgical sessions in advance — which means more efficient delivery and more patients helped.
Set up a monthly giftFrequently asked questions
What does it mean to sponsor a cataract operation?
Sponsoring a cataract operation means donating the full £200 cost of a single sight-restoring procedure for one patient — covering the surgeon's fees, the intraocular lens implant, sterile consumables, anaesthesia and post-operative follow-up care. Your gift is allocated to a named patient on a trustee-approved list at a partner hospital in Pakistan, Indonesia or Malaysia.
How much does it cost to sponsor a cataract operation?
A complete cataract operation — including the surgeon, intraocular lens, consumables, anaesthesia and one post-operative follow-up — costs approximately £200 through World Aid Network's partner hospitals. This figure is based on average partner-hospital costs and may vary slightly by country and facility.
Who performs the surgery?
All surgery is performed by ophthalmologists registered with the national medical council of the operating country — the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) in Pakistan, Konsil Kedokteran Indonesia (KKI) in Indonesia, or the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) in Malaysia. World Aid Network does not send overseas surgeons or volunteers.
Can I sponsor multiple operations?
Yes. You can donate any multiple of £200 — for example £400 to sponsor two operations, £1,000 for five, or £2,000 for a surgical session of ten patients. Larger gifts can be directed to a specific country programme if you prefer.
Can I set up a monthly gift to sponsor operations regularly?
Yes. A monthly gift of £17–£20 builds towards sponsoring approximately one complete operation per year. Regular gifts help us plan surgical sessions in advance and maintain consistent programme delivery.
Will my sponsored operation be Gift Aid eligible?
World Aid Network is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation with charity registration in progress. Gift Aid will be claimable once registration is granted — meaning UK taxpayers will be able to add 25p to every £1 at no cost to them.
How do I know the money reached a patient?
World Aid Network operates a strict no-cash policy. All payments go directly to partner hospitals via milestone bank transfer, against a named patient list approved by our trustees. Partner hospitals provide post-operative outcome reports confirming each patient's visual acuity result. Trustees conduct regular audits.
Can I sponsor cataract surgery as Sadaqah or Zakat?
Many donors give a sponsored cataract operation as Sadaqah or Sadaqah Jariyah. World Aid Network is a secular UK charity and does not issue Shariah rulings or claim a verified Zakat product — please consult a qualified scholar before allocating obligatory Zakat. Calculate what you owe at zakat-calculator.org.uk/zakat-calculator. Full guidance: /sadaqah-eye-surgery and /zakat-calculator
Will I receive a certificate or patient update?
World Aid Network pays partner hospitals against trustee-approved named patient lists and collects post-operative visual acuity reports for assurance and audit. Impact updates can be provided on request once programmes are running. Marketing 'adopt a named child' style sponsorship is not the model; clinical allocation follows need and hospital lists.
Can I sponsor cataract surgery for someone in Indonesia or Malaysia, not only Pakistan?
Yes. World Aid Network funds operations in Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia. Surgery is performed by clinicians registered with the relevant national council — PMDC, KKI or MMC. You may request a country preference when donating; final allocation follows approved clinical need and available surgical lists.
Is £200 ultra-low-cost cataract surgery the same as UK private prices?
No. UK private cataract surgery often costs thousands of pounds per eye. Partner hospitals delivering high-volume cataract surgery overseas can provide a complete operation for about £200 — the model many global eye-care programmes use. World Aid Network funds that full pathway; we do not offer NHS care in Britain.
How can you sponsor a sight-restoring operation today?
£200 permanently restores sight for one patient. Every operation is funded directly to a partner hospital — no cash, no middlemen.
Donate £200 — sponsor one operationOr give any amount — every £25 covers a life-changing surgical component.