10 October 2025
From data on the profession in Europe, to special clinics, photography to film, World Sight Day has seen a flurry of activity raising awareness of the importance of eye health for all.
This year, World Sight Day, organised by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), has focused on highlighting real eye health stories, sharing that: “At the heart of every piece of data is a person.”
OT takes a snapshot of activity recognising the awareness day.
IAPB: the value of vision and the stories behind the data
IAPB has been highlighting the importance of investing in vision, sharing how countries can benefit from making eye health a priority.
This follows a new report released by IAPB, Seva Foundation, and Fred Hollows Foundation, which illustrated the economic effects of making simple eye health interventions in low and middle income countries.
The Value of Vision report sets out six priority areas for governments to prevent sight loss.
The organisation has also been highlighting the real stories of people who have received sight-saving care, such as Denis, 23, a content creator from Mshomoroni, who nearly lost his sight while at university before receiving urgent surgery.
He said: “The surgery changed my life. Now I can study, create content, and plan for my future. No one should lose their vision when the solutions are this simple.”
Recognising an eye care champion
Coinciding with World Sight Day, IAPB global ambassador, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh presented England Lioness and Chelsea Football Club goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton, with a Love Your Eyes Special Recognition Award.
Hampton was born with strabismus and underwent multiple surgeries before the age of three in order to improve her sight.
With a passion for sport, she described needing to learn to “train differently and adapt to the challenges of my vision condition.”
The award acknowledges Hampton’s work to raise awareness of eye health, challenge stigma, and inspire others.
Sharing her story for the IAPB’s Every Story Counts initiative, she said: “When I look at the career I enjoy today, I know it wouldn’t have been possible without eye care when I was young.”
“Millions of people live with sight conditions. I was one of the lucky ones who could get care.” she said.
ECOO: understanding the profession in Europe
The European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) has launched the Blue Book 2025 on World Sight Day.
Drawing on data from 27 member countries, the Blue Book explores Europe’s eye care workforce and an overview of how education, practice, and professional roles connect to global standards.
Gabriëlle Janssen, president of ECOO, said: “The optical and optometric sector continues to play a vital role in safeguarding vision and eye health across Europe.”
“With increasing recognition of the importance of primary eye care in public health systems, there is a pressing need for reliable, comparative information on how these professions are structured, educated, and regulated,” Janssen added.
SeeAbility: the power of coming together
SeeAbility has released a new film to tell the story of its campaign to roll-out eye care services in special schools.
Lisa Donaldson, optometrist and SeeAbility’s director of eye care and vision, said: “For SeeAbility, our campaign continues to remove barriers to eye care for all people with a learning disability, children and adults, and to make sure the national scheme in special schools rolls out this year and delivers the best outcomes.”
“There is much more to be done, but we hope the film is an inspiration to others as to the power of coming together, putting evidence in front of governments, being persistent and fighting for a more equal right to sight.”
Vision Action: making essential eye care available and affordable
Vision Action has highlighted its programme in underserved communities of the Upper East Region of Ghana, training primary health care personnel to integrate basic eye care into their daily work.
The charity highlighted that this approach helps to ensure rural communities can access eye care within their local health facilities, rather than travelling long distances at considerable cost.
The programme has screened more than 52,500 people between January and September this year, with 648 receiving spectacles.
Alberta Doyo Ackwerh, a community health nurse, commented: “I am happy to be part of this wonderful project bringing eye care services to communities. It feels good screening with the Peek tablet as it removes obvious human errors.”
Vision Care: a new brand identity and refreshed goals
Vision Care for Homeless People has unveiled its new brand identity, Vision Care, marking both World Sight Day (9 October) and World Homelessness Day (10 October).
Along with the new name, the charity outlined three aims and plans to release its five-year strategy.
Hannah Telfer, CEO of Vision Care, said: “Our new identity as Vision Care reflects both continuity and change. Our mission remains grounded in providing direct eye care services, but we are now broadening our focus to challenge the systemic barriers that deny people the right to sight.”
The charity has also been hosting a series of events and awareness-raising activities including welcoming members of parliament into clinics.
Peek Vision: a turning point in tackling the global vision crisis
Farhana Rehman-Furs, head of global partnerships at Peek Vision and IAPB board member, reflected on the awareness day, telling OT: “World Sight Day is such an important moment for the eye health sector and this year it feels like we are at a real turning point.”
She added: “In my role developing Peek Vision’s eye health partnerships, I am continually humbled by the incredible work our partners do to bring better vision and eye health to those who need it. The vast unmet need for vision services continues to grow, yet as a sector we are more united than ever and have a growing number of innovative tools at our disposal to tackle the global vision crisis.”
Rehman-Furs emphasised that “we cannot stand still,” sharing: “The IAPB and others are driving a significant movement to secure major political and financial commitments to tackle vision loss worldwide. It cannot come soon enough. Vision impairment and blindness are major public health problems that take a huge toll, affecting people’s livelihoods, families and wellbeing.”
“As a sector, we need to work together now more than ever to make eye health accessible, available and affordable for everyone,” she concluded.
Fight for Sight: scaling mountains
Fight for Sight has launched its new year-long fundraising event, Summit for Sight, encouraging people to "climb your own mountain to save sight, change lives.”
The first leg of the challenge is Step Up to Summit, where participants can choose their own timeframe and log steps towards summiting their own virtual mountain climb.
In June and September 2026, adventurous participants can sign up to the Three Peaks Challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon.
Finally, a trek through the Mont Blanc region of the Alps will take place in September.
Sharing the news on social media, the charity said: “Just as climbing a mountain demands persistence, vision-impaired people tackle everyday obstacles with courage and resilience.”
Orbis: Bringing eye health to the public’s attention
Visitors to King’s Cross Station in London might be surprised to see a booth shaped like a giant eyeball on the main concourse.
Orbis has launched an Iris Campaign, inviting members of the public to have a piece of artwork made from a photograph of their iris.
Rebecca Cronin, CEO of Orbis UK, said: “World Sight Day is one of the most important days in the eye health calendar – a day to come together and celebrate the achievements of the eye health community and join the ongoing fight against global blindness.”
Sharing a message to the public, Cronin said: “No one should lose their sight due to where they live, and your iris photograph could help create a future where everyone, everywhere, has access to the eye care they need to thrive.”
To celebrate World Sight Day, Orbis held a breakfast event at the St Pancras London Hotel, with appearances from author, broadcaster and charity campaigner, Katie Piper OBE, as well as presenter Sonali Shah, and actress and comedian Nina Wadia OBE.
Piper said: “This World Sight Day, I’m supporting Orbis UK in their mission to help communities and children globally who deserve that same gift – ensuring that people across the globe can access the quality eye care when and where they need it.”
MODO and Seva Foundation: children in the frame
Modo Eyewear celebrated the progress of its Buy a Frame – Help a Child programme this World Sight Day.
The programme provides children around the world with access to vision care.
The company shared the latest results highlighting that, together with Seva Foundation, 2,094,153 children have been screened, 183,943 glasses have been provided for children, and 43,951 paediatric surgeries have been completed.
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