Purwokerto Clinic Brings New Hope to Cataract Patients with Free Surgery Programme

In commemoration of the 2026 PERDAMI Month of Service, Klinik Utama Mata JEC ANWARI @ Purwokerto is participating in a charitable cataract surgery initiative organised by the Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association (PERDAMI). Embracing the spirit of ‘One Doctor, One Sight’, the programme aims to expand access to eye care for the community, particularly those suffering from vision impairment due to cataracts. Cataracts occur when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, causing blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and difficulty with daily activities. The condition is primarily age-related but can also be influenced by diabetes, eye injuries, long-term medication use, ultraviolet exposure, and congenital factors. In Indonesia, cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness. According to the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey conducted by PERDAMI and the Ministry of Health’s Research and Development Agency across 15 provinces, the blindness rate is 3% among the population aged 50 and above, with cataracts responsible for approximately 81.2% of cases. Blindness from cataracts is largely preventable and treatable through proper examination and surgery, where the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The charitable event at Klinik Utama Mata JEC ANWARI @ Purwokerto runs from 7-9 July 2026 and includes patient screening, supporting examinations, cataract surgery for those meeting medical criteria, and a follow-up control seven days post-operation. Head of the clinic, Dr. Kukuh Prasetyo, stated that the participation reflects the institution’s care for people with cataract-related vision impairment. ‘Through this activity, we hope more patients get the opportunity to see better, carry out activities more independently, and live a better quality of life,’ he said. As an eye care institution established in 1984, JEC Eye Hospitals and Clinics has handled over 200,000 cataract surgeries and offers integrated services from examination to recovery, including phacoemulsification and Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS). The programme aligns with PERDAMI’s mission to reduce preventable blindness and raise public awareness about the importance of early detection and proper cataract treatment.