On October 9, we marked World Sight Day 2025 with the call to Love Your Eyes, joining the global campaign initiated by IAPB, alongside hundreds of other organizations around the world.
Across 10 countries and three continents, our teams and partners worked tirelessly to raise awareness, advocate for eye health and provide screenings to thousands of people.
Our global impact with our partners saw us:
- conduct 66,051 eye screenings, including 31,065 for children,
- organize eye health screenings in 81 schools in six countries,
- distribute 1,728 pairs of prescription eyeglasses; and
- attend or hold 39 advocacy meetings and awareness-raising events.
Below are highlights of our World Sight Day achievements from around the world.
Highlights by region
Africa
Ethiopia: A school eye health initiative resulted in screenings of 1,200 students at Lideta Primary and Middle School in Bahir Dar City. The event linked eye health with WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) education and provided free prescription eyeglasses to students in need.
Community members in Ethiopia shared learnings that highlighted the importance of raising awareness of eye health in schools for both teachers and students.
I used to think some students were lazy when they struggled to read. Now I realize many have vision problems. This opened my eyes – literally and figuratively.”
– teacher in Ethiopia after a school eye health screening for World Sight Day 2025
A grade six student said, “I heard about trachoma only a month ago after joining our health club. Before this, most of us didn’t even know such eye problems existed.” The World Health Organization (WHO) lists trachoma as the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness and one of 21 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that affect over one billion of the world’s lowest income people. As of April 2025, the WHO Weekly epidemiological record reported that Ethiopia accounted for 64 per cent of the global burden of trachoma, with 66 million people at risk. It can be prevented with access to clean water and hygiene education and treated with antibiotics. (Learn more about our trachoma treatment and prevention projects here.)
Ghana: Our Ghana team supported Ghana Health Service in a press event to share the importance of eye health and the significance of World Sight Day. Alongside partners Watborg Eye Services, Gbawe Municipal Hospital and Swedru Government Hospital, community eye screenings and eye health awareness activities took place. In all, 876 people had their eyes screened.
Kenya: Our Kenya team conducted advocacy for eye health by attending 12 meetings and working with partners to educate decision-makers at the national, regional and community levels about the need for eye health care and public education. This included working with the National Ministry of Health Eye Health Section to conduct eye screenings for Nairobi County Assembly members, to educate and advocate for the need to prioritize eye health in resource allocation.
Our Kenya team also ran an eye health awareness campaign at the Kajiado County Assembly, where Members of the County Assembly and staff received eye screening and treatment for various eye conditions. This was conducted to educate decision-makers on the need to include eye health in policy formulation, budget planning, and public. As a result, the County Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the health and well-being of citizens through informed policies and strategic partnerships.
In Nandi County, in partnership with the County Government of Nandi and through the support of Johnson & Johnson, we officially launched a new eye clinic at Maraba Sub-County Hospital in Tinderet Sub County. The launch was presided over by Deputy County Commissioner Esther Oyugi and attended by senior county officials and community representatives. This marked a major milestone in improving access to primary eye care services. The new facility will provide screening, treatment and referral services, significantly enhancing Nandi County’s capacity to deliver comprehensive eye care and contributing to the elimination of avoidable blindness in the region.
Malawi: Our team in Malawi worked with partners to screen 16,701 people. This included screening students in nine schools and training 42 frontline workers.
Zambia: Our Zambia team worked with partners to screen 20,087 people. Screenings were held at 20 schools, reaching 12,728 students. Of these, 886 students received prescription eyeglasses. In all, 79 people were booked for cataract surgeries.
We also advocated for eye health through meetings with the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Health and hosted a radio call-in show to educate the public about eye health care and where they can seek help.
North America
Canada: In Canada, we focused on advocacy for integrating eye health into universal health care. Events included a webinar, lighting events at the Calgary Tower, the Esplanade Riel Bridge in Winnipeg, Market Square in Guelph and the CN Tower in Toronto as well as news stories.
Kris Kelm, Global Director – International Programs and Chair of the Canadian Eye Health Coalition, featured in a dynamic webinar titled “The Future in Focus: Eye Health in Canada and Beyond”, with experts discussing the urgent need to prioritize and strategize for the growing demands of eye care across the life cycle. Speakers and topics included:
- Global Eye Health Trends with Katie Judson, Seva Canada
- Equitable Access for Children & Seniors with Dr. Boateng Wiafe, Watborg Eye Services, Ghana
- Canadian Eye Health Priorities with Kris Kelm, Operation Eyesight
- Policy & Advocacy for Eye Health Equity with Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, Canadian Senate
- Innovations in Research with Dr. Hunter Cherwek, Orbis International
The importance of eye health care in Canada was highlighted in TV and radio news stories in Calgary and Ontario, in English and in French.
South Asia
Bangladesh: Our partners in Bangladesh screened a total of 1,719 people, including 1,627 children, through screenings at 11 schools. Overall, 143 students and 40 community members received free prescription eyeglasses.
India: Our team and partners in India screened 17,715 people, including 12,709 children. Screenings were held across 39 schools with 519 students receiving free prescription eyeglasses.
Nepal: In Nepal, our partners screened 710 people, including 440 children. One school screening took place, and 95 students received free prescription eyeglasses.
Every day is World Sight Day at Operation Eyesight
While World Sight Day is a time to focus the world’s attention on the importance of eye health care, every day is World Sight Day at Operation Eyesight. Our teams are always on the ground in 10 countries work daily alongside communities, governments, hospitals and like-minded organizations to bring quality eye health care to all – regardless of ability to pay, gender, age or where people live.
We have seen how addressing avoidable vision loss transforms lives – by improving access to education, employment, independence and opportunity – For All The World To See!
Thank you for your support, on World Sight Day and every day!
