Landmark cataract surgery programme gives sight to nearly 500

Spanish and Sri Lankan doctors during the surgical campaign

Sri Lanka witnessed an inspiring example of international collaboration and humanitarian service last week, as nearly 500 individuals regained their sight through a large-scale free cataract surgery programme conducted at the Lions Neth Setha Hospital.

The initiative, spearheaded by Sri Lanka Association of Community Ophthalmologists(SLACO), brought together local expertise and global goodwill in a mission aimed at tackling avoidable blindness-one of the country’s most pressing yet solvable public health challenges.

At the heart of this effort was a volunteer surgical team from the Fundación Elena Barraquer of Spain. Demonstrating extraordinary commitment, the team travelled to Sri Lanka equipped with all essential consumables, surgical instruments, and medications required to carry out high-quality cataract surgeries-entirely free of charge.

Over an intense 4½-day surgical campaign, the team successfully completed 464 cataract operations, restoring vision to hundreds of patients who had been living in darkness, for many years. For these individuals -- predominantly from underserved communities -- this intervention was nothing short of life-changing.

Cataract remains the leading cause of blindness in Sri Lanka, particularly affecting the elderly and economically disadvantaged populations. While the condition is treatable through a relatively simple surgical procedure, access to timely care continues to be uneven, especially outside major urban centres.

This project underscored the power of partnerships in bridging such gaps. The collaboration between SLACO and the Fundación Elena Barraquer was established several months ago when the Spanish foundation reached out with a clear purpose; to contribute meaningfully towards reducing cataract blindness in Sri Lanka.

Beyond the numbers, the true impact of the initiative lies in the stories behind each surgery; grandparents seeing their grandchildren for the first time, individuals regaining independence and families relieved from the burden of caregiving.

Members of the Spanish surgical team with a patient

The leadership and vision of Dr. Elena Barraquer deserve special recognition. Her longstanding commitment to eliminating avoidable blindness across the world continues to inspire medical communities and humanitarian efforts alike. Dr. Manel Pasqual, Consultant Eye Surgeon from Sri Lanka, deserves a special thanks as she has taken care of the overall supervision and after care of the patients undergoing surgery. 

As Sri Lanka continues to grapple with a significant backlog of cataract cases, initiatives such as this serve as a model for scalable, high-impact interventions. They underscore the urgent need for sustained investment, strategic partnerships, and innovative service delivery models to ensure that no Sri Lankan is left behind in darkness.

In restoring sight, this initiative has not only transformed individual lives, but also reaffirmed a powerful truth; that compassion, collaboration, and commitment can illuminate even the darkest corners of human suffering.

(The writer is the President of the Association of Community Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka)