Restore sight for 1,500 women in Pakistan.

Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT) is on a mission to ensure that no man, woman, or child goes blind simply because they cannot afford treatment. Since its inception in 1985, LRBT has provided free, high-quality eye care to more than 61 million patients across Pakistan. Through a nationwide network of20 hospitals,and 63 primary eye care centers, LRBT reaches underserved communities, delivering services without discrimination of gender, geography, ethnicity, or ability to pay.

Each year, 3.3 million underprivileged Pakistanis receive treatment at LRBT facilities, with women accounting for 51% of patients—nearly 1.7 million women annually. Despite this reach, women from low-income households remain especially vulnerable to preventable blindness. Financial constraints, social norms, caregiving responsibilities, and limited mobility often force women to delay or forgo medical care. Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness among women in Pakistan, yet timely surgery can fully restore sight and independence.

Through the project “Restoring Sight for 1,500 Women in Pakistan,” LRBT will provide free cataract surgeries and comprehensive eye care to 1,500 underprivileged women. Each patient will receive screening and diagnosis, surgery performed by qualified ophthalmologists, post-operative medication, and follow-up care. All services will be delivered entirely free of cost, ensuring that poverty never becomes a barrier to sight-saving treatment. By restoring vision, this project will enable women to return to work, care for their families, and participate fully in their communities.

Reshma’s story reflects the transformative impact of this work. At just 20 years old, she lived in growing darkness as cataracts clouded her vision. Born into poverty with no access to healthcare, she once stitched clothes and embroidered to support her family and help her brother Juman, the sole earner in their household. As her sight faded, her independence disappeared. She could no longer work or contribute and began to feel like a burden. “I felt like a burden. I couldn’t see, couldn’t help… I stopped dreaming,” she recalls.

It was Reshma’s sister-in-law who refused to give up hope and took her to a Primary Eye Care Center, where she was diagnosed and referred to LRBT for surgery. Thanks to donor support, Reshma underwent free cataract surgery. When the bandage was removed, her life changed instantly. “When I opened my eyes, it felt like I was born again. I could see my mother’s smile. I saw color. I saw hope.”

Today, Reshma is back at her sewing machine, earning an income and supporting her family with confidence and pride. Her restored sight has given her independence, dignity, and purpose. By restoring sight to 1,500 women like Reshma, this project will strengthen families, improve livelihoods, and break cycles of poverty. Every surgery is more than a medical procedure—it is a life transformed.