PHOTO ESSAY

Vision of Hope — Limpopo hospital’s cataract ops restore sight to disadvantaged patients

In rural Limpopo, thousands of people live with blindness owing to cataracts, a condition that can be reversed with a straightforward surgical procedure. Nonprofit Hope for the Blind aims to address this by raising funds and creating subsidies for disadvantaged patients, radically reducing and even eliminating the costs of restoring their sight.

Stephaans Dlamini hugs his wife Johanna after his successful cataract surgery at Hope for the Blind in Modimolle, Limpopo, on 14 March, 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)

By Alet Pretorius

10 Apr 2025

Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness in the region, affecting an estimated 10,000 people, according to Hope for the Blind. Many of them lack access to specialised care because of financial and logistical barriers. Hope for the Blind in Modimolle aims to address this by offering free or affordable cataract surgeries.

The hospital charges private patients the standard medical aid rate, and raises funds to help disadvantaged patients

Several patients recently had successful cataract removal procedures at the hospital. One of them, Mosima Mankana, who had been completely blind, regained sight for the first time in years. When the post-surgery eye patch was removed she was able to recognise faces, as well as details in the artworks at the hospital.

Hope for the Blind’s efforts are supported by the First Light Project, a fundraising initiative that integrates art with the experience of restored vision. Through this project newly sighted patients are introduced to work by renowned South African artists, including William Kentridge and Nelson Makamo. The initiative also plans to generate funding for future surgeries.

For more information or to support their work, visit Hope for the Blind. DM