GENEVA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a press release on Wednesday that nearly half of all people worldwide facing cataract-related blindness still lack access to surgical treatment.

WHO urged countries to accelerate efforts to ensure that millions of people with cataract can undergo surgery, one of the most effective and affordable interventions to prevent blindness from the condition.

Cataract -- the clouding of the eye's lens that causes blurred vision and can lead to blindness -- currently affects more than 94 million people globally, WHO said, noting that cataract surgery, a simple 15-minute procedure, provides immediate and lasting restoration of sight.

WHO is calling on governments, civil society and partners to take necessary measures to transform cataract surgery from an intervention out of reach for millions of patients to a universally accessible procedure, through sustained commitment and investment. ■