Miracle gift of sight for blind in China
Cataract is the cause of blindness for around half of China’s six million blind.
About the project
Cataract sufferers across China will regain their sight – as part of our project to restore vision for two million people in 14 countries, with our partner, CBM.
In China, Seeing is Believing, with partner CBM, is developing four hospitals as centres for the prevention of blindness. Here, the poor find it hard to access the public hospital system, as rural incomes are too low to pay for fee charges.
China has up to 6.6 million blind people – 15% of the world’s blind. Cataract is the main cause of preventable blindness, alongside childhood diseases, cornea disease, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. With the world’s most rapidly ageing population, China faces yet more complex eye care problems to come.
There are 45 million blind people worldwide and cataract is the leading cause. But more than two-thirds of cases could have been prevented, or are treatable.
For just US$30 each, a simple 15-minute cataract operation can restore sight for around 17 million of the world’s blind people, most of whom live in the poorest countries. Restoring sight goes far beyond improving the individual’s quality of life. It means they can play a full and active role in their family, their community and the wider economy.
By 2010, through our wider project with partners CBM, we aim to provide:
- Nearly two million sight-restoring cataracts surgeries in 14 countries
- Operations by long-term CBM partners, chosen for professional ability, accountability, transparency, good governance and management, community respect.
Other projects in China
“Intra Ocular Lenses (IOLs) for two million cataract patients a year with state-of-the-art procedures … is miraculously providing sight to those who would otherwise be blind.”CEO, CBM, Dr William McAllister
- Period
- 2007-2010
- Partner
- CBM, formerly known as Christian Blind Mission – UK