2025: A Year of Great Action for IAPB Latin America

The year 2025 has been a standout period for eye health in Latin America, characterized by significant strengthening of regional networks, high-impact advocacy campaigns, and a series of strategic educational events. Under the umbrella of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and the “2030 In Sight” strategy, the region drove more accessible and inclusive eye care.

Strategic Meetings and Advocacy

On May 29, 2025, the in-person meeting of IAPB members from across the region took place in Bogotá, Colombia. Led by Regional Chair Dr. Valeria Sánchez Huerta, and with the presence of IAPB CEO Peter Holland, this meeting served as a platform for members to share national progress and challenges.

Another milestone of the year was the deepening collaboration between the IAPB and the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO), a momentum that continued on June 2, 2025, with a joint IAPB/PAAO session held during the Pan-American Congress of Ophthalmology in Bogotá. The session focused on new data regarding refractive errors and officially launched the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health in the region. Speakers emphasized the need to engage governments to secure firm commitments to eye health as a key component of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In September 2025, in Mexico, nine leading eye health institutions joined forces with the IAPB to present “A Call for Eye Health in Latin America.” This master document outlined strategies to strengthen health systems and ensure that vision care is recognized as a public health priority on the continent.

Educational Events, Capacity Building, and Evidence Generation

• Mexico (August): APEC organized the course “Ocular Infections: Challenges and Solutions,” attended by over 500 professionals.
• Peru (September): The INO celebrated its anniversary with the XIV International Course on Community Eye Health (CISOC) and the OftalmoCiencia Innova Congress, featuring live surgeries and innovation contests.
• Paraguay (November): The 12th Workshop on Community Eye Health Management was held to train professionals in political advocacy and sustainable management models.

Finally, in September globally and in November within our region, the “Eye Health Investment Case” was launched. This research provides the economic backing for governments to invest in eye health, providing the necessary data to demonstrate the financial return on investment to ministries of finance and donors.

World Sight Day 2025

The “Love Your Eyes” campaign motivated widespread mobilization during World Sight Day in October:

• Mexico: A massive “Run for Visual Health” was organized with over 2,000 participants, and a high-level meeting was held with the Senate Health Commission to position visual health as a national priority.
• Bolivia: The “Ojos del Mundo” foundation led large-scale awareness events in Oruro and Tarija, while Fundación Kantutani performed free cataract surgeries.
• Paraguay: Fundación Visión carried out 300 free surgeries and educational activities, with the backing of the Ministry of Health, which highlighted the expansion of ophthalmological services.
• Peru: Activities included the “19th International Optovisión Congress” by the Instituto de Enseñanza Euro Hispano and virtual forums by the National Institute of Ophthalmology (INO).
• Others: Clínica Foster in Argentina, CES University in Colombia, Visualiza in Guatemala, and Fundación Ojo Sano in Nicaragua also participated with social media campaigns, free consultations, and surgeries for vulnerable populations.

With all this, we can say that 2025 has been a year of “action and connection” for Latin America. Through high-level political advocacy, robust academic exchange, and community work, the region took significant steps to ensure that, by 2030, no one is left behind due to avoidable vision loss.

Thank you all for this year 2025, and let’s go for a 2026 where we look forward to everyone’s participation!