#USA #Jersey City #HelpMeSee #Cataract Blindness #World Sight Day

HelpMeSee Calls for Action on World Sight Day

On October 8, 2026, HelpMeSee marked World Sight Day by urging the global community to increase investment in skilled surgical professionals to tackle one of the leading causes of preventable blindness—cataracts. This pressing issue affects around 94 million adults aged 50 and older, who suffer from vision impairment or blindness caused by untreated cataracts. Alarmingly, more than half of the individuals needing cataract surgery have no access to it. In the WHO African region, three out of four people in need of this vital surgery remain untreated.

Cataracts can be surgically resolved; however, expanding access to treatment relies heavily on having a sufficient number of trained professionals equipped with the necessary surgical skills to deliver high-quality care where it is most needed. Key challenges to cataract surgeries include a shortage of qualified ophthalmologists, imbalanced distributions of medical professionals, costs, infrastructure limitations, and other healthcare obstacles.

"Recognizing the extent of the problem is just the beginning. Addressing it requires sustainable investments in the personnel and facilities capable of providing high-quality surgical care. Building a qualified surgical workforce is crucial to establishing a lasting capacity for cataract surgeries in communities with the most need," explained Dr. Nicoletta Fynn-Thompson, Chief Medical Officer at HelpMeSee.

This call to action comes at a pivotal moment for global eye health. In September, the World Health Organization initiated a public consultation regarding a proposed global initiative aimed at eliminating avoidable blindness and visual impairments. The goal is to boost effective cataract surgery coverage by 30 percentage points by 2030, as set by the World Health Assembly.

World Sight Day also precedes the forthcoming Global Eye Health Summit, where government leaders and major stakeholders in global eye health will unite to advocate for universal access to eye care.

Building Surgical Skills through Simulation

HelpMeSee is committed to addressing the surgical workforce shortage through competency-based, simulation-assisted training for cataract surgery. By partnering with educational institutions worldwide, HelpMeSee supports the establishment of sustainable local surgical capacities and the effective integration of surgical skills into clinical practice.

Their training system combines high-resolution virtual reality and realistic haptic feedback with structured curriculums and instructor-led training sessions. This method allows trainees to repeatedly practice surgical skills, identify and respond to complications, receive objective feedback on their performance, and build competence in a simulated environment prior to performing live surgeries.

Achieving progress will require strong partnerships and sustainable investments into people, education, and facilities necessary to provide communities worldwide with access to high-quality cataract care.

Promoting Global Dialogue

In alignment with World Sight Day, HelpMeSee sponsors a week-long special series through ‘Healthcare Information For All’ (HIFA) on topics including cataract blindness, surgical quality, and the importance of simulation-based training, running from October 8 to 14. The international discussion will bring together healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders to address the global burden of cataracts, the availability and quality of surgical interventions, the role of simulation training, and necessary policy actions and resources to improve access to high-quality cataract care.

"No single organization can close the global gap in cataract treatment alone. Progress demands strong partnerships and ongoing investments in the workforce, education, and facilities that enable high-quality cataract care," commented Doug May, President and CEO of HelpMeSee.

To tackle blindness caused by cataracts effectively, a coordinated approach involving governments, health systems, educational institutions, NGOs, donors, and local partners is essential. Strengthening surgical staff and supporting facilities must be a core focus of these efforts.

Support HelpMeSee on World Sight Day

HelpMeSee is a nonprofit organization aiming to eliminate blindness caused by cataracts, where 100 million people are affected globally. By promoting training in Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS), which is both cost-effective and successful, HelpMeSee ensures communities have access to affordable vision restoration treatment. The HelpMeSee MSICS training system features highly realistic virtual reality simulations, haptic feedback, advanced competency learning modules, and electronic learning aids.

Founded by Al and Jim Ueltschi, HelpMeSee seeks to develop its training system by leveraging techniques successfully utilized in pilot training. Al Ueltschi, a prominent figure in the aviation industry, dedicated his efforts to combat avoidable blindness in developing countries. HelpMeSee trains highly qualified, low-cost MSICS professionals to guarantee that all communities can access affordable treatment for restoring vision. With over 40 simulators and 19 training centers globally, HelpMeSee collaborates with governments, universities, and leading innovators to address the global crisis of cataract-induced blindness. For further information, please visit HelpMeSee.