An international charity program has helped 1.1 million Chinese cataract sufferers see the light of day, according to a recent seminar in Harbin.

The patients owe their restored vision to Sight First China Action, a program sponsored by the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), the world's largest humanitarian service organization, and the Chinese government.

Since July 1997, Sight First China Action programs, aided by Hong Kong and Macao people, have been carried out in various parts of the country.

Over the past three years, some 2,400 ophthalmologists have taken part in the project, returning vision to 1.1 million blind people with ages ranging from four months to 103. Sixty percent of the beneficiaries were from rural area.

In August of 1997, LCIF granted 15.3 million US dollars to fund cataract surgery for 1.75 million people, the establishment of eye clinics in 100 Chinese county-level hospitals, and the training of 4,000 ophthalmologists in cataract surgical techniques.