Eye expert Xu Shen tells a cataract patient from the Tibet autonomous region, who has undergone eye surgery, how to protect her eyes. Jue Guo / Xinhua

A project offering free cataract surgery has helped more than 30,000 blind people regain their eyesight in the Tibet autonomous region.

For more than 20 years, the Regaining Eyesight Project initiated by the Tibet Development Fund has provided free cataract surgery in Tibet.

"I finally know what 'blue' looks like. It's great to be able to see the world," said Tudan Cering, a 7-year-old boy with congenital cataracts, who underwent free surgery two months ago in East China's Zhejiang province.

Tibet has the highest incidence of cataracts in China. In some cases, the project paid for patients to see specialists outside the region.

It also included the construction of the Lhasa Institute of Eye Care in Tibet's capital, which has helped many patients from rural areas throughout Tibet to receive free operations since 2005.

"I'm able to feed the cows by myself now, thanks to the doctors," said a 68-year-old man who was operated on in June.

Tibetans face a greater risk of cataracts due to the high altitude and strong ultraviolet rays, said Cedain Doje of the eye care institute. "The lack of medical facilities and inconvenient transportation in the region multiply the seriousness of the situation."

"Hopefully, through practice, the surgery can be learned by local doctors and passed down," said Lyu Tongfu, a visiting doctor from Quzhou People's Hospital in Zhejiang province.