Between 1997 and 2008, over 87,000 cataract patients had received free operations.

There are now four eye-trains continuously shuttling between rural areas in Mainland China operating on over 14,000 cataract patients each year.

The academy says 90 percent of cataract patients get their good vision back.

Ridley based his research on this, and resulted in the development of artificial intraocular lens transplant surgery for cataract patients.

It also placed a virtual ceiling on additional fees doctors can charge elderly cataract patients.

The average cataract patient is 68 years old, so Medicare is virtually the sole payer for cataract surgery.

If he is covered by Medicare, as the vast majority of cataract patients are, by law less than $3,000 will be paid.

Lifeline Express restores sights to the cataract patients in rural China.

The Ministry of Health estimated that 1 million cataract patients are remain uncured, with an increase of 0.5 million new cases every year.

He also found that an iridectomy could help with the high intraocular pressures of a cataract patient and defer cataract surgery.