Volunteer surgeons restored sight to 133 South Africans during two weekends of free cataract operations, some of whom had been on waiting lists since 2019. The 15–20-minute procedures, held as part of recurring Health Department "surgical marathons," aim to reduce a backlog of more than 240,000 cataract patients nationwide. Health experts say cataract surgery is a highly cost-effective way to restore independence and quality of life.
‘Wow!’ — Surgical Marathon Restores Sight For 133 South Africans
An ophthalmologist performs cataract surgery while an assistant hands him surgical instruments during a marathon event, in Tsakane, South Africa, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Kayleen Morgan)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
TSAKANE, South Africa — Gladys Khoza had missed the simple pleasure of seeing her family: faces, expressions and small details that had become blurred or invisible because of poor vision. The 84-year-old is one of 133 people whose sight was restored during a volunteer-run cataract surgery marathon at two regional hospitals over two weekends.
Gladys Khoza adjusts an eye testing device during an eye surgery marathon, in Tsakane, South Africa, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Kayleen Morgan)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
“Wow!” Khoza whispered as a nurse peeled back her eye bandage a day after surgery and the world came back into focus. When asked, “Can you see me?” she replied with a broad grin, “Very well.”
Ophthalmologists operate on two patients during a marathon cataract event, in Tsakane, South Africa, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Kayleen Morgan)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Cataract surgery is a short, typically 15–20-minute procedure in which a cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial one. In South Africa’s public health system, however, these straightforward operations can be delayed for years. Officials said some patients selected from hospital waiting lists for the recent marathon had been waiting since 2019 to regain clear vision.
A monitor displays a live cataract surgery during a surgical marathon, in Tsakane, South Africa, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Kayleen Morgan)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Why This Matters
Cataracts are the leading cause of treatable blindness worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates more than 2 billion people have some form of vision impairment, and roughly half of those cases could have been prevented or treated. Nearly 100 million people are affected by cataracts globally, and in Africa about 75% of those in need do not have access to surgery, according to a study published in The Lancet.
Gladys Khoza undergoes a post-operative eye test after cataract surgery, in Tsakane, South Africa, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Kayleen Morgan)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The Surgical Marathon
The Health Department launched surgical marathons on Mandela Day in 2023 to accelerate care and honor Nelson Mandela’s legacy. The events have since become a recurring public–private partnership designed to reduce backlogs across a range of procedures. Cataracts were the latest focus.
At Pholosong Regional Hospital during the three-day effort, teams brought a new patient into the operating theater roughly every 30 minutes. Gospel music played softly to boost morale as surgeons looked through microscopes, made tiny incisions, removed cloudy lenses and inserted artificial replacements. At times two teams worked simultaneously to increase throughput; the final weekend saw 60 surgeries completed.
“It’s beautiful because it alleviates depression,” said Dr. Tebogo Fakude, a volunteer surgeon who noted that restoring sight can ease patients’ sense of being a burden on their families.
Scale And Impact
Health authorities estimate South Africa faces a backlog of more than 240,000 people waiting for cataract operations. Each year about 300,000 new cataract cases are diagnosed in the country, and in Gauteng — the most populous province where the recent marathon took place — more than 35,000 people are living with cataract-related blindness.
Cataract surgery is among the most cost-effective medical procedures and can restore independence, dignity and economic opportunity for patients. Recipients such as Molefe Mokoena, 72, have expressed excitement about everyday changes: “I want to see my great-grandchildren. I want to drive my car, and I’m happy about this.”
The Associated Press receives support for global health reporting from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; AP retains editorial control of all content.
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