Thousands more people across Northern Ireland are benefiting from faster access to cataract as the regional service continues to increase capacity.
The Department of Health highlighted progress during a visit to Downe Hospital, where additional theatre activity is helping the wider regional programme carry out more sight-saving procedures.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations carried out by health services and can make a major difference to independence, mobility and quality of life. Increasing capacity therefore has a very direct effect on people waiting for care.
The work is part of a broader effort to reduce waiting times and use available theatre space more effectively across Northern Ireland.