Winners of WSD photo competition 2025 revealed

The IAPB has also created a digital exhibition to celebrate 10 years of the annual competition

2 min read

The photograph shows half of Shakul’s face. Shakul has vitiligo, wears a cobalt blue top and is photographed against a pale blue background. Shakul’s eyes are an icy, electric blue

Marijn Fidder courtesy of IAPB

13 November 2025

The International Association for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has named the winners of the 10^th annual World Sight Day photography competition.

The photography competition highlights the importance of eye care and encourages photographers to capture stories that illustrate what it means to ‘Love Your Eyes’.

Taken by Marijn Fidder in Uganda, the photograph ‘Shakul’s Eyes’ was selected as the professional photo of the year.

From Samoa, Darren James’ ‘Makalika and her son post-surgery' was chosen by judges as the amateur photo of the year.

The winning images were selected from more than 500 entries across more than 60 countries.

To mark the milestone anniversary of the competition, IAPB has created a digital exhibition Celebrating 10 years of the World Sight Day photo competition with stand-out images and photographers from the past decade.

Makalika and her son are posed together, laughing. Makalika wears a colourful red and blue patterned top and has an eye patch following surgery. Her son holds a handful of bright pink flowers, and his head is thrown back in a laugh

Darren James, courtesy of IAPB

Amateur photo of the year winner: ‘Makalika’ and her son post-surgery'

Courtenay Holden, head of communications and campaigns at IAPB, said: “The quality, creativity, and storytelling in this year’s submissions were outstanding. Each year we invite photographers to share images that celebrate the importance of eye care, and this year did not disappoint.”

The judging panel included OT’s own deputy editor, Lucy Miller.

Also in the panel were Samit Sakib Gore, director of operations and innovations at Vision Friend Sakib Gore; Anne Cooper, editorial director for 20/20 Magazine and Vision Monday at Jobson Optical Group; Jessica Miller, deputy online editor at Amateur Photographer Magazine, photographer and curator; Anna Braeken, vice president, global ophthalmology lead for Bayer; and Abdullah Al-Majed, Saudi photographer and winner of the 2024 competition.

Braeken said of the competition: “These images serve as a compelling reminder of the critical importance of access to eye care and the profound impact it has on individuals and communities.”