Last year, we provided affordable eye care services to 8.9 million people. Our programmes ensured that over 2 million children received essential eye care.
Through partnerships with 102 organisations in 30 countries, we intensified our efforts to strengthen national eye health systems and improve access to comprehensive eye care services integrated within national health systems and policies.
Key projects from Uganda, Guatemala, and Kenya
The report highlights our Retinoblastoma Project in Uganda, which aims to improve the quality of life for children with retinoblastoma in South-Western Uganda and neighbouring countries like Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Congo.
In Guatemala, our partnership with Fundación Guatemalteca para Niños con Sordoceguera Alex (FUNDAL) and Unidad Nacional de Oftalmología (UNO) focuses on establishing comprehensive low-vision services across five districts. Additionally, through collaboration with UNO, we support Retinopathy of Prematurity initiatives, leveraging teleophthalmology to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and adherence to care in remote areas.
In Kenya, the Vision Impact Project (VIP) has been improving access to eye care services for children in seven counties since its launch in 2021 through community and school screening programmes.
Key facts about children's eye health
- Worldwide, 450 million children have a sight condition requiring treatment, with many unable to access affordable eye care.
- Children in low-and-middle-income countries with vision loss are 2-5x less likely to be in school.
- Every day, young people miss learning and social opportunities because of a vision issue that could be treated, corrected and often cured.
A call to action
Eye health in children is not an optional extra. It is vital to everything. CBM calls upon all eye health stakeholders and World leaders to:
- Create a world where young people are inspired to prioritize their vision. Let's empower a generation of children with the information they need to protect their eyes and take the necessary steps to care for their vision. This includes reducing screen time, spending time outdoors, and seeking support for any eye-related issues or discomfort.
- Ensure that children understand the importance of caring for their eye health and are free from the weight of any social stigma associated with wearing glasses and other corrective treatments.
- Ensure that governments and key decision-makers recognise that early intervention and regular eye health are critical to unlocking education opportunities and future economic potential.
