World leaders commit landmark US$1bn+ to tackle avoidable sight loss worldwide

Nov 3 2026

Inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health secures historic multi-partner commitments to expand access to screening, spectacles, and treatment for hundreds of millions of people.

Over US$1 billion in domestic funding allocated by governments to make eye care a core component of national health systems, insurance coverage and public spending.
Heads of state and delegations from over 40 countries unite behind ambitious national commitments led by Indonesia ($600m), Nepal ($240m), Bangladesh ($129m), Rwanda ($82m), and Cambodia ($20m)
Every US$1 invested in eye health in low-and middle-income countries generates a return of up to US$28
WHO launches ‘SEE 2045 Cataract Elimination Initiative’, making cataract only the second noncommunicable condition in WHO history to have a global elimination target
Outcomes from government commitments also include over 68 million glasses distributed to underserved communities and over 13 million sight-restoring cataract surgeries delivered

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, 3 Nov 2026 – World leaders and government ministers at the inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health agreed a historic package to tackle avoidable vision loss worldwide, with over 40 governments committing over US$1 billion in domestic funding to improve access to eye care screening, spectacles and treatment. The commitments are also set to deliver 68 million pairs of glasses to underserved communities and 13 million sight-restoring cataract surgeries.

Convened by IAPB, hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and co-hosted by the Governments of Bangladesh, Guyana, Ireland and Nigeria in technical collaboration with WHO, the Summit brought together national governments, including many heads of state and government, alongside health leaders, development partners, businesses and advocates behind a shared objective to accelerate universal access to eye care.

More than one billion people worldwide live with preventable or treatable vision loss. The delegations present at the Summit represented over 60% of the world’s population, including countries such as Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria and Rwanda.

Independently validated through a WHO-led process, the total package covers health system integration, policy reform, service delivery, and direct financial investment. Together, government commitments announced at the Summit will include:

Bangladesh: US$129 million to embed comprehensive eye care into its Universal Health Coverage benefit package for 20 million people.
Indonesia: US$600 million to integrate eye health across primary care and Vision Centres, school health services, community and occupational health platforms, reaching more than 50 million people by 2030.
Nepal: US$240 million to advance universal eye care, raising effective cataract surgical coverage to 70% and expanding presbyopia care across all 77 districts.
Nigeria: Primary eye care integration across health facilities to reach 25 million people, including training 10,000 health workers, dispensing 5 million reading glasses, and delivering 25,000 subsidised cataract surgeries.
Pakistan: Primary eye care expansion for 60 million people by establishing 150 Rural Health Centres as Advanced Primary Eye Care hubs.
Rwanda: US$78 million for its National Strategic Plan for Eye Health, alongside a US$4.1 million health insurance commitment to make ready-made reading glasses a reimbursable benefit (Mutuelle de Santé).
Sierra Leone: US$3 million to reach 1 million citizens by 2030, pioneering the integration of eye care into national health security and epidemic preparedness frameworks to treat ocular complications from Ebola and mpox across 75% of primary health units.
World Health Organisation (WHO): Launched its WHO SEE 2045 Cataract Elimination Initiative, a historic roadmap to eliminate cataract as a public health problem by 2045, ensuring that millions of people get access to the surgery they need to preserve their sight – making cataract only the second noncommunicable disease in WHO history with a global elimination target.

The national commitments reflect growing recognition among finance and health ministers that eye health is a primary driver of economic development. Research indicates that every US$1 invested in eye health in low- and middle-income countries generates up to US$28 in economic return through increased workplace productivity, extended working lives, and improved educational outcomes. By integrating eye care into national health systems and schools, the package agreed in Antigua and Barbuda aims to deliver substantial economic and social gains across lower-and middle-income nations over the coming decade.

Overall, the Summit also saw multi-million-dollar commitments from 143 non-government stakeholders. These include organisations including 15 private sector companies, 91 NGOs/ INGOs, 13 professional/ regulatory bodies, 10 academic and research institutions, 7 health facilities, 4 philanthropic organisations, and 3 international and multinational organisations. These cover a broad range including eye care facilities, expanding service delivery, scaling up spectacle distribution, and training frontline healthcare workers.

Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said: “Today, the global community has taken a decisive step towards consigning avoidable blindness to history. The commitments announced at this Summit demonstrate what is possible when governments, international organisations, civil society and the private sector come together behind a shared vision. Antigua and Barbuda is proud to have hosted this landmark gathering, which has created a clear pathway to improve millions of lives, strengthen economies and ensure that sight-saving care reaches those who need it most.”

Peter Holland, CEO, IAPB, said: “The Global Summit for Eye Health marks a defining moment for global eye health. Never before have so many governments, organisations, and private sector leaders come together around a shared commitment to expand access to sight-saving care. The package of commitments announced this week will improve the lives of hundreds of millions of people and help them go to school, stay in work, care for their families, and participate fully in society. It demonstrates growing recognition that investing in eye health is an investment in human potential, economic growth, and sustainable development.”

“While the real measure of success will be implementation in the years ahead, the Summit has turned ambition into action and built momentum towards eye health for all.”