Join us for a powerful and symbolic opening ceremony as we welcome global leaders, policymakers, changemakers, and visionaries to the stage. From Kathmandu, we mark the next step in our shared journey — from Singapore to Mexico, and now to Nepal — to accelerate progress on the 2030 In Sight Strategy. Be part of the movement shaping the Global Summit for Eye Health and a vision that extends well beyond this decade.

Room: IAPB Auditorium 

An Evening Inspired by Nepal Join us on Wednesday, 30 April, from 17:30 for a reception filled with Nepalese charm, featuring traditional cuisine, captivating live entertainment, and vibrant networking opportunities. Celebrate culture, connection, and camaraderie against the majestic backdrop of the Himalayas.

Location: The Soaltee Gardens

Join us on May 1 for the plenary session "The Future in Focus: Eye Health in a Changing World” featuring keynotes and a panel discussion. This pivotal session will explore the evolving geopolitical landscape and emerging trends shaping the future of health, development, and technology, with a special emphasis on eye health as we approach the 2030 milestone for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).​

Esteemed leaders driving meaningful change will delve into critical challenges and underlying tensions in global health and development. The discussion will highlight necessary transformations and innovations to navigate an increasingly complex environment, showcasing key enablers and strategies for achieving lasting systemic impact in eye health and beyond.

Room: IAPB Auditorium

Background
Despite the availability of this simple, sight-correcting intervention (i.e., spectacles), uncorrected refractive error remains the leading cause of vision impairment in child and adult populations. If left uncorrected, refractive error significantly impacts on well-being and can contribute to poor academic performance in children.

In recognition of the large unmet need for care, coupled with the fact a highly cost–effective intervention exists, WHO Member States endorsed the first-ever global target for refractive error at the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly (2021). Specifically, the global target is a 40-percentage point increase in effective coverage of refractive error (eREC) by 2030.

What is WHO SPECS 2030?
A comprehensive approach is needed to address these many long-standing challenges to increasing the coverage of refractive error services. The WHO SPECS 2030 Initiative calls for coordinated action amongst all stakeholders (public, private, non-profit, and philanthropy) across the following five pillars, in line with the SPECS acronym:

• S: Improve access to refractive Services
• P: Build capacity of Personnel to provide refractive services
• E: Improve population Education
• C: Reduce the Cost of refractive error services
• S: Strengthen Surveillance and research.