Community Eye Health

Egypt’s eye‐health burden is heavy, with more than 7 million Egyptians live with visual impairment. Egypt’s cataract backlog of more than 1.5 million cases and a cataract surgical rate of 1,600-1,700 per million population—well below the World Health Organization’s benchmark of 3,000—highlight a dual burden: large numbers of people remain blind from cataract while many more suffer avoidable vision loss because they simply lack spectacles. Addressing both surgery and eyeglass provision is therefore essential.

Since 1998, Magrabi Foundation has built a model of eye‐care delivery centered on high‐volume cataract surgery while ensuring quality, inclusivity, and sustainability. ERA is partnering with MF on the Sight for All program targeting North Sinai, Fayoum, and Aswan; which will include outreach, comprehensive ophthalmic exams, eyeglasses, and surgical referrals where needed.

Over the course of 2026 the program is expected to:

• Screen approximately 3,900 individuals (1,500 in North Sinai, 900 in Fayoum and 1,500 in Aswan), identifying refractive errors, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment and glaucoma.

• Improve vision for about 1,400 people by providing prescription eyeglasses (600 in North Sinai, 360 in Fayoum and 450 in Aswan).

• Restore sight through roughly 450 cataract surgeries. Cataract operations will be financed through Magrabi Foundation resources and performed at Magrabi hospitals.

• Perform about 240 major surgeries for conditions such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment and advanced glaucoma (75 cases in North Sinai, 90 in Fayoum and 75 in Aswan).

Outreach Clinic