WHAT IS HAPPENING?

According to data from the World Health Organization, approximately 43 million people worldwide are living with blindness, and 295 million suffer from moderate to severe visual impairment. In total, 2.2 billion people face some form of vision loss or impairment. At least 1 billion of these cases are due to preventable or treatable causes, such as cataracts.

Cataracts, which account for 51% of blindness cases, can lead to irreversible vision loss if left untreated. Often caused by aging, diabetes, prolonged exposure to sunlight, eye injuries, or inflammation, cataracts can be treated through a simple and quick surgical procedure. However, due to financial hardship, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and a shortage of specialists, treatment remains inaccessible in many regions. This is particularly common in low-income countries across Africa and Asia, where cataracts and other eye diseases pose a major public health concern. Thousands of patients struggle with this condition, which severely impacts their daily lives, and await a helping hand to restore their sight.

WHAT DO WE DO?

Since 2006, Yeryüzü Doktorları (Doctors Worldwide Türkiye) has been carrying out eye health programs in regions in need. To date, we have conducted more than 280,000 eye examinations, performed over 39,000 cataract surgeries, and provided more than 73,000 eyeglasses across 27 countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Chechnya, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Cameroon, Cambodia, Kenya, DR Congo, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen.

Through these efforts led by our volunteer medical teams, we not only improve individual lives but also contribute to strengthening local healthcare systems. We continue to provide long-term solutions by offering medical equipment and training for local health workers.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

By making a donation here, you can support our cataract initiatives carried out within the scope of our eye health projects and help those in need who are at risk of losing their sight.