New Value of Vision Study Confirms Transformational Impact of Investing in Eye Health
Eye Care Sector leaders from around the globe gathered in New York City in September for the release of the much-anticipated Value of Vision report. The report unveiling came during the 80th United Nations General Assembly at a high-level meeting hosted by IAPB and the United Nations Friends of Vision Group, of which Cure Blindness Project is a secretariat member.
The meeting included global leaders across Member States, civil society and NGOs to discuss the critical role of preventing sight loss and the transformational impact of investing in eye health.
The Value of Vision: The case for investing in eye health was a collaboration between IAPB, Seva Foundation and the Fred Hollows Foundation. The report laid out six priority areas for governments to prevent sight loss:
(1) early detection through vision screenings in the community,
(2) giving out reading glasses on the spot where needed,
(3) increasing capacity in the eye health workforce,
(4) boost surgical productivity and teams,
(5) removing barriers to accessing eye health like cost, distance and stigma, and
(6) making cataract surgery even better with innovative training techniques, wider use of biometry and stronger minimum post-op care standards.
Cure Blindness Project with partners has provided more than 20,500 training opportunities, completed more than 19.1 million eye screenings, and performed more than 1.84 million surgeries.
“Eye health is one of the most powerful ways governments can build stronger economies…But we have practical, affordable solutions. Ahead of the Global Eye Health Summit next year, we must work together across sectors to integrate eye care into national health, social and economic systems and make it accessible and affordable for all,” adds Peter Holland, CEO, IAPB.
