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Watch a cataract operation, see a life change

A few years ago, during a trip to Bangladesh, we filmed a time-lapse video of a Sightsavers cataract operation taking place at Khulna BNSB hospital in the south-west of the country.

A standard adult operation takes 10 to 20 minutes – our film condenses this down into one and a half minutes to provide a glimpse of what’s involved.

This footage was filmed before COVID-19, on adult cataract patients, not children, but we love how it demonstrates how quickly this simple operation can transform someone’s life.

Notice that two adult patients are present in the operating theatre at the same time: one is prepared for surgery by nurses while the other is being operated on. This enabled the surgeon to start a new operation as soon as the first is finished, maximising the number of patients treated each day.

During the operation, the clouded lens is replaced by an artificial one and the patient’s sight can return just a few hours after surgery.

However, if left untreated, cataracts can cause irreversible blindness. This can be avoided through getting this straightforward surgery.

Please, will you help more people receive life-changing cataract operation?

Will you help more people receive sight-saving surgery?

I would like to make a donation to sightsavers

could pay for the surgical supplies needed for five cataract operations for children like Khadijah.

A close-up of the plastic lens that's implanted into the eye during a cataract operation.

could provide lenses to enable six children born with cataracts to see clearly for the first time.

$10

could provide a cataract operation, saving a child’s sight and opening up opportunities for a brighter future.

could pay for the surgical supplies needed for five cataract operations for children like Khadijah.

could provide lenses to enable six children born with cataracts to see clearly for the first time.

could provide a cataract operation, saving a child’s sight and opening up opportunities for a brighter future.

We're sorry, but the minimum donation we can take is $3

We're sorry, but we cannot process a donation of this size online. Please contact us on [email protected] for assistance donating over $10,000

$30

could provide lenses to enable two children born with cataracts to see clearly for the first time.

$51

could pay for the surgical supplies needed for five cataract operations for children like Khadijah.

$109

could provide a cataract operation, saving a child’s sight and opening up opportunities for a brighter future.

could provide lenses to enable two children born with cataracts to see clearly for the first time.

could pay for the surgical supplies needed for five cataract operations for children like Khadijah.

could provide a cataract operation, saving a child’s sight and opening up opportunities for a brighter future.

We're sorry, but the minimum donation we can take is $3

We're sorry, but we cannot process a donation of this size online. Please contact us on [email protected] for assistance donating over $10,000

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.

Watch a cataract operation, see a life change

A few years ago, during a trip to Bangladesh, we filmed a time-lapse video of a Sightsavers cataract operation taking place at Khulna BNSB hospital in the south-west of the country.

Will you help more people receive sight-saving surgery?

Protecting sight, fighting disease and promoting equality for all