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New York: Eye tests in schools and distributing on-the-spot reading glasses are among the simple, cost-effective interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that could see a return of $447 billion to the economy annually and 22 million more people employed per year, world-first research reveals.
The Value of Vision report, published by the IAPB, in collaboration with Seva Foundation and Fred Hollows Foundation to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly in New York, shows that delivering on six priority eye health areas will see a $28 return for every $1 invested. This places eye health alongside nutrition as one of the most powerful and cost-effective opportunities to boost global development.
The report, unveiled today during the United Nations General Assembly at a high-level meeting hosted by IAPB and The United Nations Friends of Vision Group, brings together global leaders across Member States, civil society and NGOs to discuss the critical role of preventing sight loss in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Nearly 1 billion people in LMICs live with avoidable sight loss. The crisis is only set to worsen with ageing populations and increasing reliance on screens, and the personal consequences of sight loss are devastating: unemployment, lower educational attainment, mental ill health, social isolation, and increased risk of injury and illness.
The report lays out six priority areas for governments to prevent sight loss:
A $7.1 billion investment in these priorities would recoup $199 billion by 2030. If countries build on this foundation beyond 2030, fully eliminating vision impairment would unlock $447 billion every year. The transformative impact would generate annual benefits equivalent to 13 million extra years of schooling, 22 million more people employed, and 304 million people relieved of unpaid caregiving, predominantly women.
In his keynote address, during the high-level meeting hosted by IAPB and The United Nations Friends of Vision Group, Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, will urge Member States to take concrete steps and develop national roadmaps ahead of the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health, officially announced today.
The Summit will be the first of its kind, bringing together governments, multilaterals, civil society, and the private sector to provide a global platform for countries to present their progress, agree to a unified policy and commitment framework, and mobilise new financial and political commitment to ensure eye health is fully integrated into health and development strategies worldwide.
Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, will say in his address at UNGA:
“Five years ago, this General Assembly achieved the adoption of the “Vision for Everyone” resolution, a landmark agreement that committed us all, as leaders, to ensuring eye care reaches those who need it most. But five years on, not enough progress has been made.
“There are still children losing out on education because they cannot read a book or see a blackboard properly. There are still workers leaving their jobs because they cannot see well enough to be safe or productive. There are still elders unable to help their families or contribute to society in the way they can and should.
“Unlike some difficult and complex policy issues, eye health already has solutions that are affordable and implementable. What is needed now is action to get these solutions to the people who need them.”
“For small states like Antigua and Barbuda, the potential return on investment is clear. Investing in eye health is a smart economic strategy. It is a way to unlock jobs, productivity, growth and prosperity for all.”
Peter Holland, CEO of IAPB, says:
“Vision loss is a truly universal problem, but has often been sidelined in global development discussions. It impacts nearly every part of our lives: our ability to learn, find employment, our earning potential, and our mental health. This comes at a tangible cost not just for individuals, but for families, communities and economies.
“Eye health is one of the most powerful ways governments can build stronger economies. But we know there are significant barriers to overcome. We must tackle the stigma around glasses and sight loss that prevents people from seeking help. Eye health has also been siloed from wider healthcare, with fragmented systems and a workforce that in many places can’t meet the demand.
“But we have practical, affordable solutions. Ahead of the Global Eye Health Summit next year, we must work together across sectors to integrate eye care into national health, social and economic systems and make it accessible and affordable for all.”
Brad Wong, Chief Economist at Seva Foundation, says:
“Our analysis shows that investing in eye health is not only transformative for individuals, but also one of the smartest economic decisions governments can make. Simple, proven interventions like school screenings, cataract surgery, and ready-made reading glasses deliver outsized returns.
“Our analysis goes beyond headline figures to capture the multi-sectoral benefits of vision. Improved sight translates into measurable gains in labour force participation, higher educational attainment, and worker productivity. By quantifying these cross-cutting impacts, we can show governments and development banks that eye health is not a marginal issue but an investment with consistent, long-term returns across the whole economy.
“By 2030, these measures could return hundreds of billions to the global economy each year. The evidence is clear: eye health is no longer a peripheral issue. It is central to driving sustainable growth.”
Jack Hennessy, Senior Health Economist, The Fred Hollows Foundation, said:
“Eye health interventions consistently rank among the most cost-effective in the world. These aren’t treatments and solutions that we’re searching for – they’re here right in front of us.
“Our research provides a roadmap of low-cost, actionable interventions for Governments and donors to invest in over the next five years to realise the enormous health, social, and economic benefits to restoring sight.
“We have demonstrated that eye health is fundamentally a development issue that can lead to benefits ranging from economic productivity improvements to averted road traffic accidents and reduced incidence of poor mental health.
“The benefits of restoring sight to individuals, families, communities, and the broader economic and social environment are clear. We show how such interventions can be nationally and globally scaled at extremely low-cost, proving that eye health truly is one of the best investments in global health.”
To learn, explore the research, visit the IAPB Vision Atlas.
Prevent Blindness is declaring February as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Month in an effort to provide education and various expert-approved resources to the public and professionals. This year’s AMD and Low Vision Month is generously supported by Gold Sponsor EyePoint, Inc.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, AMD is the most common cause of severe loss of eyesight among people 50 and older. And, about 4 million Americans live with low vision, which is defined as chronic visual impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or medical treatments.
AMD affects the central part of the retina called the “macula.” When AMD damages the macula, the center part of a person’s vision may become blurred or wavy, and a blind spot may develop. Early detection and treatment of AMD is key to helping to prevent significant vision loss.
Two types of AMD include:
“As our population ages, the number of individuals impacted by AMD continues to grow. Many will face difficulties doing the things we sometimes take for granted, such as reading, seeing faces, and driving,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “Our robust collection of resources on AMD and low vision are intentionally created to help minimize vision loss and maintain independence for those impacted by AMD while providing effective tools to the public and providers on ways to save sight.”
As part of AMD and Low Vision Month, Prevent Blindness offers the free AMD GuideMe app. This resource provides a customized overview of AMD along with a tailored resource list and suggested steps to help save sight from the eye disease specific to the individual using the GuideMe app. Prevent Blindness offers additional educational resources including fact sheets and shareable social media graphics in English and Spanish, and dedicated webpages.
New this year, as part of the Prevent Blindness ASPECT Patient Engagement Program Member Spotlight Series, graduate Laurie S., shares her experience with AMD, including her family history with the eye disease, how it impacts her daily activities including the ability to read music, and the importance of support groups “Age-related Macular Degeneration: Laurie’s Story.”
Videos in the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Series include:
The Prevent Blindness “Living Well With Low Vision” program provides useful information to those with low vision, their care partners and healthcare professionals. Content includes self-help guides, resources for vision loss and mental wellness, information on clinical trials, and much more. Living Well With Low Vision is supported by grants from Amgen and Genentech.
For more information on AMD, please visit PreventBlindness.org/amd. For information on geographic atrophy, please visit PreventBlindness.org/geographic-atrophy.
And, for more information on Living Well With Low Vision, or other general eye health information, please visit lowvision.PreventBlindness.org.
For a listing of organizations and services that provide financial assistance for vision care in English or Spanish, please visit https://preventblindness.org/vision-care-financial-assistance-information.
