Protecting sight

At Sightsavers, we prevent blindness among some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Learn how our vital work fights sight loss in Africa and Asia.

Seven-year-old Luyando has her bandages removed after a successful cataract operation.

Globally, 1.1 billion people have a visual impairment that could have been treated or prevented.

Unless eye health services improve around the world, 61 million people could be blind by 2050 because of global population growth and ageing.

The impact of visual impairment can be devastating. It can stop children going to school. It can prevent people finding a job. It can force people into a spiral of poverty. And the knock-on effects can harm families and entire communities.

But you can help us change this. At Sightsavers, we believe nobody should be blind from avoidable causes, and we want everybody to be able to get eye treatment when they need it. A pair of glasses or an operation to remove cataracts can transform people’s lives.

What we’re doing to save and protect sight

We treat eye conditions

We support eye care staff to tackle eye conditions including cataracts and trachoma, and we help to eliminate diseases that affect sight.
The eye conditions we treat

We train eye surgeons

Our work relies on thousands of skilled staff. Since 1950, we’ve trained more than 1,000 local cataract surgeons.
A guide to eye health roles

We give out medication

Sightsavers works with partners to distribute millions of donated treatments to prevent eye diseases in more than 30 countries.
How we distribute medication

We use local volunteers

Our volunteers work in their local communities and are trained to check symptoms, give out medicine and refer patients for treatment.
Meet our volunteers

We make eye health accessible

We ensure people with disabilities, women and other marginalised groups can get eye care.
Our inclusive health approach

We carry out research

Our in-house experts conduct extensive research to ensure Sightsavers’ eye health work is robust, efficient and effective.
About our research

1 / 6

“I’m so happy I can see my grandfather again!”

Cataracts were slowly stealing 10-year-old Mary's sight, leaving her struggling at school and excluded by her friends. But a straightforward operation restored her vision and gave her hope for the future. Read her story

How you can help

Since our work began, we’ve helped to provide more than 9 million cataract operations.

We’ve also distributed more than 1.8 billion treatments to protect people from blinding diseases such as trachoma and river blindness. But we need your support to continue protecting sight.

Access to the right eye care can create a massive, positive ripple effect in people’s lives. Globally, hundreds of billions of dollars are lost in productivity each year because of visual impairment. But eye care can improve access to education and work opportunities, and reduce poverty and hunger. Will you help us achieve this?

Give a gift today to protect sight and fight vision loss

DONATE

We protect sight, fight disease and make sure everyone can claim their rights.

Find out how your support can make a huge difference and change lives.

How we protect sight

Globally, 1.1 billion people have a visual impairment that could have been treated or prevented.