AIMS: To survey the spectrum of eye disease presenting to rural eye clinics in Cambodia. METHODS: A total of 1381 patients seen consecutively at 13 eye clinics were examined and the findings recorded. RESULTS: 231 (16.7%) were bilaterally blind (visual acuity < 3/60 in both eyes); 263 (19%) were unilaterally blind, and 169 (12%) had low vision (visual acuity < 6/18 in the better eye). Cataract was the commonest cause of visual loss in all three categories and was responsible respectively in 69%, 40%, and 55% of each group. Trachoma was diagnosed in 13% of patients. Thirty three of them needed lid surgery for trichiasis. CONCLUSION: With the difficult practical and political situation in Cambodia there seems little prospect of making substantial inroads into the backlog of avoidable blindness in the near future.