By Sefa Mutlu </p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – Volunteer doctors associated with a Turkish aid group carried out 5,441 cataract surgeries in 2018, head of the group said on Wednesday.</p> <p>Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Yahyahan Guney, chairman of Istanbul-based Yeryuzu Doktorlari Association (YDD), said the group conducted 164,000 examinations, 5,441 surgeries and 1,800 nutrition therapies for needy people in 2018.</p> <p>Talking about YDD’s operations in 2018, Guney said: “We carried out crisis and emergency projects, therapeutic healthcare, nutrition health, maternal health, preventive healthcare, medical training, psychosocial support, medication, consumables and hygiene material support, and equipment and system support projects.” </p> <p>Guney also stressed the importance of helping people in countries — such as Palestine, Syria and Somalia — where war, conflicts and natural disasters made it difficult for people to receive health care.</p> <p>“Cataract is triggered by bad living conditions, malnutrition, geographical and climatic conditions in addition to head and eye traumas,” said Dr. Hasan Oktay Ozkan, vice chairman of YDD.</p> <p>He said the aid group is launching a donation campaign for cataract operation.</p> <p>One cataract operation costs 500 Turkish lira ($96) and people can donate money via text messages, according to the website of YDD.</p> <p>Around 285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide and 100 million of them suffer from cataract, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).