Gauteng Health Communication
 
In commemoration of Eye Care Awareness Month as well as in a bid to reduce cataract surgical backlogs caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Gauteng public hospitals have embarked on marathon cataract operations.
Currently there are over 15 900 patients awaiting cataract surgery. These represent the number of booked cases excluding any emergency cataract surgeries that could not wait for later. Around 8 527 cataract surgeries were cancelled in the province since the start of the lockdown on 26 March 2020.  Non-emergency cataract surgeries were among services that were deferred in response to the Covid-19 pandemic to free up space at health facilities.  
"Since moving to Covid-19 Alert Level 1 which has seen the relaxation of restrictions on economic and social activity allowing more people to be able to move around we have prioritized the resumption of those services that were impacted," explains Gauteng Acting Health MEC Jacob Mamabolo. 
Among the measures being implemented to catch-up on the cataract operations under COVID-19 includes; gradually resuming cataract surgery in hospitals from mid-September, conducting weekend cataract surgery marathons and increased theatre time in hospitals during Eye Care Awareness Month (October). ​
The  recent collaboration between Kalafong Tertiary Hospital, the Steve Biko Academic Hospital will result in about 200 cataract procedures being performed in two weeks. 

This partnership will see Steve Biko Academic Hospital eye clinic medical personnel joining Kalafong Hospital staff, using two dedicated theatres to perform around 15-20 operations per day.  
Furthermore,  Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa plans to perform 60 cataract surgeries between 19-23 October 2020. Whilst Leratong Hospital gears towards  performing 40 cataract procedures on 24-25 October 2020.  Other Gauteng hospitals are also performing cataract marathon operations on the weekends to reduce backlogs. 
The waiting time for cataract surgery varies across facilities from two weeks to 16 months which is influenced by size of the waiting list and the relevant resources at the particular facility.  
Eye Care Awareness Month is commemorated from 23 September to 18 October to raise awareness about the importance of eye health, specifically around the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness. This year, it is celebrated under theme: "Hope in sight".