Cambodia Advances in Preventing Blindness: 20,000 Regain Sight, Sustained Investment Crucial

Efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness in Cambodia are gathering momentum, with more than 20,000 Cambodians regaining their sight through cataract surgery last year alone. Latest results from international development organization The Fred Hollows Foundation highlight significant progress in expanding access to eye care across the country, achieved through partnerships with the Ministry of Health and provincial hospitals. Alongside cataract surgery, thousands received eye screening, treatment for other vision conditions, and prescription glasses. Healthcare workers and teachers were also trained to strengthen nationwide eye care services. Despite this progress, cataracts remain the leading cause of avoidable blindness in Cambodia, particularly affecting older individuals in rural areas where access to specialist treatment can be limited by distance and cost. Tokyo Bak, Cambodia country manager for The Fred Hollows Foundation, emphasized that improving access to affordable eye care offers benefits far beyond restoring vision. "For many people in Cambodia, eye health services remain unaffordable and inaccessible to those most in need," Bak stated. "But by working with government partners, we are strengthening the eye health system and developing the workforce we need to end avoidable blindness in Cambodia." He further explained that restoring sight yields far-reaching benefits, enabling individuals to return to work, children to continue their education, older people to maintain independence, and families to avoid unnecessary financial hardship. While over 90 percent of vision loss is preventable or treatable, Bak noted that greater investment is required to ensure services continue expanding to meet growing demand. The impact of this work is perhaps best illustrated by the experience of Sokheap, a 58-year-old resident of Kampong Chhnang province. For years, Sokheap supported herself, her children, and grandchildren by selling papaya salad and meatballs from a roadside stall. Her livelihood, however, was disrupted when cataracts gradually stole her sight, eventually leading to complete blindness. One of her daughters gave up her job in Phnom Penh to care for her full-time, while her five-year-old grandson assisted with daily tasks. "I really wanted to see the faces of my daughters and grandchildren again," Sokheap shared. After learning about a community outreach program supported by The Fred Hollows Foundation and the Australian NGO Cooperation Program, Sokheap attended a screening clinic. Specialists diagnosed cataracts and recommended surgery. Like many in her community, Sokheap had heard rumors that cataract surgery could worsen blindness. Eye specialists at Kampong Chhnang Provincial Hospital note that such misconceptions remain a significant obstacle, despite cataract surgery being one of the safest and most successful medical procedures globally. Following reassurance from medical staff, Sokheap underwent the operation. The results were immediate. The morning after surgery, she could read every line on the vision chart and walked unaided from the examination room. Upon returning home, she was able to clearly see her grandson for the first time in months and embraced him. Today, she hopes her experience will encourage others not to delay seeking treatment for vision problems. For The Fred Hollows Foundation, stories like Sokheap's demonstrate that restoring sight is not merely a medical intervention but an investment in families, communities, and Cambodia's future. By continuing to strengthen local health services, train eye care professionals, and improve access to affordable treatment, the Foundation and its partners aim to ensure that thousands more Cambodians can once again enjoy the opportunity to see, work, and live independently. Information Source: Phnom Penh Post