Urgent action is needed now to end avoidable sight loss, to improve the economy and opportunities for the next generation.

​The Government of Antigua and Barbuda will host the first ever Global Summit for Eye Health to focus on the value of vision to countries, communities and individuals. ​

​The Summit will convene senior leaders from government, private and public sectors, NGO’s and funding institutions to help reach the 1 billion people living with avoidable sight loss.​

​Five years on from the UN Resolution on Vision, the event will be an opportunity to secure a new wave of ambitious commitments and transform a shared vision into action.

The Value of Vision

Vision is foundational to economic and societal participation. It results in heathier workforces and higher productivity at work, better attendance and outcomes at schools as well as healthier and happier communities. It is fundamentally connected to both educational attainment and access to employment. ​

​The Investment case, launched at the United Nations General Assembly,  outlines the economic costs and benefits of addressing sight loss and provides a clear and actionable path for countries to deliver an immediate positive impact on economies, workforces, schools and communities.

Learn more about the value of vision

The Summit will convene world leaders to:

Commit to leadership and action from the highest levels of Government. Activate nationally owned plans to deliver change and an integrated approach. Implement policy changes to address vision, recognising it as a whole-of-life issue requiring a whole-of-government approach.	Increase resources, recognising the return on investment possible nationally and internationally. Explore innovative funding mechanisms and new ways to fund eye health. Foster partnerships with the private sector.	Collaborate across public and private sectors to harness educational and societal benefits. Implement the six accelerator interventions quickly as a minimum and scale over time. Harness technology and fast-track research and development.

Our Policy Framework outlines steps that different departments or ministries can take to support their own priorities and implement national approaches that are fitting for their populations’ needs.

Download the framework.