Round Table

We are showcasing a comprehensive set of real-world examples & research that highlights progress, challenges, lessons learnt and innovative solutions from the sector through selected abstracts as Rapid Fires. These examples will serve as evidence demonstrating action required to integrate eye health into national systems and development agendas. The stream also includes round tables on Refractive Error, Cataract and Diabetic Retinopathy. ​ ​

Open Round Table Refractive Error – Sharing Positively Disruptive Solutions

The roundtable provides a platform for members to explore positively disruptive and cutting-edge solutions to scale refractive error services. The session will follow a dynamic pitch format, where presenters deliver concise, compelling elevator pitches on transformative ideas to address uncorrected refractive error.​ ​

For each of the four sub-areas of the Refractive Error Strategy—Advocacy & Policy, Data & Evidence, Coordination & Communication, and Myopia—two presenters will have 90 seconds to pitch an innovative solution. The audience will then collaborate with the presenters to refine and strengthen their ideas before they are re-pitched in an improved format.​ ​

This session aims to foster creative engagement, uncover innovative ideas, and assess the viability of solutions through collective thinking.​ ​

Room: Action Cafe

Speakers

  • Cindy Tromans
    Cindy Tromans

    Cindy is currently President Elect of the World Council of Optometry and is a Past President of the European Council of Optometry and Optics. 

  • Nathan Congdon
    Nathan Congdon

    Prof Nathan Congdon, MD, MPH, is Ulverscroft Chair of Global Eye Health at Queen’s University Belfast and Director of Research for ORBIS International.

  • Amanda Davis
    Amanda Davis

    Amanda Davis has been working in the area of blindness prevention and public health since 2006. Her experience spans advocacy, education, research, and infrastructure development. She has developed and managed relationships with key stakeholders and partners including NGOs, industry, government departments and universities.

  • Thulasiraj Ravilla
    Thulasiraj Ravilla

    Thulasiraj is an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management- Calcutta. After eight years in Industry, he joined Aravind Eye Hospital in 1981 to lead the administration as a member of its start-up team. Aravind Eye Hospitals now annually handle over six million outpatient visits and perform over 700,000 surgeries and other interventions.

  • Jacqueline Grove
    Jacqueline Grove

    Jacqueline Grove has over 15 years of experience in the vision sector, previously with Luxottica Retail and currently with National Vision Inc. Her roles have been quite diverse ranging from SVP of Store Operations, Training and Development, DEIB and Philanthropy.

  • Fiona Lawless
    Fiona Lawless

    Fiona is a health policy adviser with Sightsavers covering areas such as eye health, inclusive data, climate and health and health equity. She works to ensure that eye health is included in broader health and development conversations at a global level in the UN and WHO and ensuring that equity is at the heart of the discussions.

  • Joyce Koech
    Joyce Koech

    Joy Koech is the Head of Inclusive Health Programmes at CBM. As a Public Health Specialist, she brings extensive experience in Public Health Programming and Health System Strengthening in low and middle-income countries.

  • Sumrana Yasmin
    Sumrana Yasmin

    Sumrana Yasmin is the Deputy Technical Director of Eye Health at Sightsavers, based in Pakistan.

  • Jack Hennessy
    Jack Hennessy

    Jack is a health economist with over ten years of experience in health economics research, policy, and evaluation.

  • Stuart Cockerill
    Stuart Cockerill

    With over 30 years experience in the contact lens industry, Stuart is recognised as a visionary leader who identifies market trends to keep CooperVision as leader in the sector.

Open Roundtable – Cataract: Breaking Barriers: Expanding Access to Cataract Care​

Cataract is the leading cause of sight loss worldwide, yet millions struggle to access the care they need. From workforce shortages to financial and infrastructure constraints, barriers to cataract services persist, limiting progress towards universal eye health. This interactive roundtable will discuss key challenges and explore solutions to expand access to quality cataract care and achieve the cataract surgical coverage target.​ ​

Participants will engage in table discussions to tackle key barriers like workforce shortages, infrastructure gaps, financial constraints, and low patient awareness. The session will wrap up with key takeaways to improve access to equitable and sustainable cataract care. Insights from the discussion will feed into the 2026 Global Summit on Eye Health, strengthening collaboration and advancing progress toward the 2030 target. ​

Room: Action Cafe

Speakers

  • K-T Overbey
    K-T Overbey

    K-T serves as CEO of Cure Blindness Project and is deeply committed to the mission of eradicating avoidable blindness in underserved communities. She was previously the President of OneSight and serves on the IAPB Board of Trustees. During her tenure at Cure Blindness Project, K-T has overseen a significant expansion of the organization, both in terms of revenues and impact, and she has launched a long-term strategic plan that will continue this growth.

  • Dr. Sangchul Yoon
    Dr. Sangchul Yoon

    Sangchul Yoon (MD, Ph.D.) is a Professor at the Graduate School of Public Health, Catholic University of Korea. A board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cornea and preventive ophthalmology, he earned his Ph.D. in Public Health from Yonsei University, South Korea.

  • Binita Sharma
    Binita Sharma

    Binita is the Program Director for Seva programs in Nepal.  She brings the experience of working on clinical projects in hospitals and community-based eye care programs in a variety of professional contexts in more than ten years in the field of ophthalmology.

Open Roundtable - Diabetic Retinopathy​

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the fifth leading cause of blindness worldwide and the only one still increasing. Tackling this challenge requires a well-rounded approach that improves policies, healthcare services, and patient access. This session brings together experts and patient voices, using Nepal as a case study to explore key issues and solutions. Attendees will share experiences, discuss strategies, and help shape the future of DR care.​

Discussions will focus on how governments and health systems can create strong, long-term policies to fight DR. We will look at the challenges of providing quality screening and treatment and how new technology, better training, and improved healthcare models can make a difference. The session will also explore how to close the gap between policy and real-world care, ensuring fair access for all—especially underserved communities—while learning from patient experiences to build better solutions.​

Room: Action Cafe

Speakers

  • Prof. Dr. Raba Thapa
    Prof. Dr. Raba Thapa

    Dr. Raba Thapa MD, PhD is a Professor of Ophthalmology at National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), and a senior consultant vitreo-retinal surgeon at Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO), Kathmandu, Nepal.

  • Dr Covadonga Bascaran
    Dr Covadonga Bascaran

    Dr Covadonga Bascaran is a Clinical Research Fellow at the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH) at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

  • Dr Krishna Prasad Paudel
    Dr Krishna Prasad Paudel

    Dr. Paudel has completed MBBS from Manipal College of Medical Sciences in 2002 and joined as Medical Officer of Department of Pediatrics Manipal Teaching Hospital which brought him to Pediatrics. He joined Government of Nepal Ministry of Health in 2004 as a Medical Officer starting career as In-charge of Bhimad Primary Health Care Centre Tanahun district.

  • Sadhana Manandhar
    Sadhana Manandhar

    I am an experienced professional with a distinguished career in food technology and quality control.

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