Pakistan’s cataract burden continues to rise despite an expansion in treatment facilities, driven by the fast-growing diabetes epidemic, an ageing population, malnutrition, ultraviolet exposure and late diagnosis. Prof Dr Sabihuddin Ahmed, Head of the Cataract Department at Al Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, said these pressures are outpacing the system’s ability to deliver timely care, especially in areas with limited specialist coverage. He said closing the treatment gap requires a shift toward decentralised services, including mandatory screening for diabetic patients and the integration of basic eye exams into primary healthcare networks.
He said doctors in the Al Shifa network perform about 8,500 free cataract surgeries each month across six hospitals. This expansion is donor-supported but remains insufficient as diabetes-driven cataracts rise. Pakistan ranks first globally in diabetes prevalence with 34.5 million adults suffering from the disease, which could reach 70.2 million by 2050. Provincial prevalence stands at 16 per cent in Punjab, 15 per cent in Baluchistan, 14 per cent in Sindh, and 11 per cent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. About 230000 Pakistanis die annually due to diabetes related complications.
Talking to the media, Prof Ahmed said the cataract surgical rate is now more than double the 2002 level, yet millions remain untreated. There are about 570,000 adults with cataract-related blindness and 3.56 million with visual impairments. Meeting needs by 2030 will require at least 1.84 million surgeries annually. He said economic losses are widening because an untreated cataract reduces labour participation, lowers household productivity, and increases dependency among older earners. WHO estimates show global productivity losses of 411 billion dollars from vision impairment. IN Pakistan, the private sector performs 42.4 per cent of surgeries, NGOs 39.9 per cent, and the public sector 17.7 per cent, keeping most of the burden on non-state providers.
Pakistan has only 15 ophthalmologists per million population, far fewer than in developed countries. Many districts have none, and most specialists are urban-based, limiting rural access. He said women face mobility barriers, fewer financial resources, and delayed hospital visits, resulting in higher untreated cataracts. Private surgery costs remain a major barrier, while public hospitals struggle with outdated equipment and long queues. He said provincial health systems should adopt routine diabetes screening, embed eye care in basic health units, and expand training to prevent avoidable blindness.
