# Vision impairment and eye care in Indonesia

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/vision-impairment-and-eye-care-in-indonesia
> Updated: 2026-10-26T11:13:53.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 4.

Data from Indonesia’s 2025–2026 Free Health Check (CKG) program initially revealed that approximately 2.95 million participants suffered from eye disorders. Dr. Budu, Chairman of the Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association (PERDAMI), warned that many individuals remain unaware of their vision issues, leading to delayed treatment. Cataracts are a primary cause of blindness, accounting for 81.2 percent of cases in individuals over age 50, with an estimated 600,000 to 650,000 blindness cases attributed to the condition. Experts also identified glaucoma, the ‘thief of sight,’ as a significant risk due to its ability to damage the optic nerve silently and irreversibly.

In response, the Indonesian Ministry of Health launched the Comprehensive Community Eye Care (CCEC) program alongside World Sight Day 2026. Following the screening of 34 million people, approximately 1.6 million vision impairments were identified. Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono emphasized that “90 percent of the world's 1.1 billion cases of untreated vision impairment are preventable or treatable.”

The government has committed to a three-year strategic response, including a National Vision Health Roadmap aimed at providing early detection for one million at-risk individuals at primary healthcare facilities. The Ministry has set a target Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR) of at least 3,000 procedures per one million BPJS Kesehatan participants annually, aiming to cover 80 percent of moderate to severe cataract sufferers. Efforts to reach these goals include reducing surgery waiting lists, distributing specialists to remote areas, and supporting local initiatives, such as free cataract surgeries at KSH Rembang Hospital using modern phacoemulsification techniques.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-26: Indonesia Ministry of Health targets 3,000 cataract surgeries per million residents

Indonesia's Ministry of Health aims for 3,000 cataract surgeries per million residents to improve quality of life and life expectancy, supported by local initiatives like free surgeries in Rembang.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indonesia-ministry-of-health-targets-3000-cataract-surgeries-per-million-residents

### 2026-10-20: Indonesia Ministry of Health launches eye care programs

Indonesia's Ministry of Health launched the Comprehensive Community Eye Care program to screen 60,000 students and workers following reports of 1.6 million people with vision issues.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indonesia-ministry-of-health-launches-eye-care-programs

### 2026-10-17: Indonesia Ministry of Health targets vision impairment through new programs

Indonesia's Ministry of Health has identified 1.6 million people with vision impairments and launched the Comprehensive Community Eye Care program to expand screenings and surgical access.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indonesia-ministry-of-health-targets-vision-impairment-through-new-programs

### 2026-10-13: Eye disorders affect nearly 3 million CKG participants in Indonesia

Nearly 3 million participants in Indonesia's CKG health program have eye disorders. Experts warn of economic productivity losses and the silent risks of conditions like glaucoma and cataracts.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/eye-disorders-affect-nearly-3-million-ckg-participants-in-indonesia

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Cite as: Vision impairment and eye care in Indonesia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/vision-impairment-and-eye-care-in-indonesia