Africa Steps Forward on Advancing the Eye Health of Older Populations

As Africa’s population ages, the continent faces a crucial opportunity – and responsibility – to ensure older people can age with dignity and good health. One key yet often neglected part of this equation is vision.

This week, a landmark regional meeting is taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, bringing together government representatives, NGOs, global health and development partners, to focus squarely on the eye health of older populations. Organized by The Fred Hollows Foundation, IAPB, and IFA, the one-day event is strategically being held alongside the 17th Global Conference on Ageing, an international event on ageing that is bringing together more than 1000 experts, advocates, and leaders from 60+ countries to exchange ideas and drive action to improve the lives of older people.

By 2050, the number of people aged 60 and over in Africa is projected to triple, from 69 million in 2017 to 226 million. Today, around 70 million Africans aged 50 and above live with avoidable vision loss – a figure set to rise unless eye health is made a priority. Cataract is the leading cause of blindness, accounting for half to two-thirds of cases in this age group. Crucially, this condition can be effectively treated with a simple, highly cost-effective surgery.

The consequences of vision loss in older age are far-reaching. Poor vision increases the risk of falls, cognitive decline, and depression. It contributes to social isolation, limits mobility and independence, and adds strain on families, caregivers and health systems. It also reduces older people’s ability to engage in work, community life, and decision-making, undermining their financial security, rights and wellbeing.

Despite these impacts, eye health remains largely absent from national ageing strategies in the region. At the same time, many eye health strategies fail to reflect the needs of older populations. Services that do exist are often fragmented, underfunded, or difficult to access, especially for those most at risk of being left behind, including older women and those with disabilities or living in rural or remote areas. As a result, avoidable vision loss remains one of the most neglected public health issues facing older people in Africa today.

The Cape Town meeting is a response to this gap. It seeks to elevate eye health as a core component of healthy ageing policy and investment in Africa. The event has three primary objectives. First, to raise awareness of the scale and impact of vision loss in older age and emphasize the benefits of integrating eye health into national health and ageing frameworks. Second, to strengthen collaboration across ministries, NGOs, and other key actors to promote integrated, cross-sector solutions. Third, to serve as a platform for advocacy, ensuring that Africa’s priorities and experiences inform the global agenda in the lead-up to the 2026 Global Summit on Eye Health.

A key expected outcome is the endorsement of the Manila Statement, a declaration first adopted in 2024 at a regional meeting focused on advancing the eye health of older people in Asia. The statement calls for inclusive, rights-based and integrated care approaches that prioritize eye health in older age. It underscores the need for global action paired with local adaptation, with emphasis on equity, universal access and multi-sector collaboration. The Cape Town event builds on the momentum and commitments forged in Manila, bringing the conversation into the African context, where unique demographic, structural and health system challenges call for tailored strategies and regional leadership.

Participating countries are also expected to begin shaping a roadmap to the 2026 Global Summit on Eye Health, identifying concrete steps toward improved policy, service delivery and implementation of eye health initiatives for older people.

This meeting offers a timely opportunity to elevate Africa’s leadership on global eye health. Closing the gap in eye care for older populations in the continent will also be key to reaching the World Health Organization’s 2030 eye health targets, advancing the ambitions of IAPB’s 2030 In Sight strategy, and fulfilling the vision of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030). By placing older people’s vision at the centre of policy and action, African countries can drive transformative change and ensure that no older person is left behind due to preventable vision loss.