World Sight Day in the Western Pacific: Inspiring Action Across the Region

World Sight Day continues to bring people together to recognise the importance of caring for our eyes and protecting our vision. This year, members across the Western Pacific once again showed creativity, collaboration, and strong community spirit in championing the “Love Your Eyes” message.

In Viet Nam, the Eye Care Foundation organised Eye Care Festivals in Ca Mau and Vinh Long, where nearly 400 primary school students received eye screenings, learned simple ways to protect their vision, and— for many—received their first pair of glasses. Parents joined as well, taking home guidance on how to support their children’s eye health. These events helped spark conversations at home and in classrooms, where lifelong habits begin.

In Australia, World Sight Day was marked at the national level with the launch of the Australian Eye and Ear Health Study at Parliament House in Canberra, led by the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing. Later in October, Vision 2020 Australia convened the annual Parliamentary Friends Group event to continue raising the profile of eye health on the national agenda. Vision 2020 also partnered with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation on school screenings in Victoria, reflecting this year’s focus on children’s eye health. Meanwhile, Braille Tactile Signs Australia hosted a Breakfast Forum in Melbourne, opening meaningful discussion on how to make navigation and public environments more inclusive for people who are blind or have low vision.

In South Korea, the Heart to Heart Foundation extended its efforts across borders, supporting screening and awareness activities in Cambodia and Bangladesh. These included vision checks for children, refractive error correction, diabetic retinopathy screening in public clinics, and public outreach on children’s eye health.

In Lao PDR, The Fred Hollows Foundation and the National Ophthalmology Center organised free screenings, cataract surgeries, and reading glasses distribution across five northern provinces. The main celebration in Vientiane brought together national and city leaders, health officials, clinicians, and members of the Eye Care Working Group—reflecting a strong shared commitment to improving access to eye care.

In Taiwan, the Taiwan Academy of Ophthalmology will host the 4th Jui-Fang Tsai Ophthalmology Award Symposium in Taipei, alongside the “Love Your Eyes Action” pledge to promote eye health among children, workers, and older adults.

In New Zealand, Eye Health Aotearoa hosted a Parliamentary Friends event in Wellington, offering vision screening for parliamentary staff and an evening programme highlighting the importance of early detection. A national multilingual awareness campaign is also underway across outdoor, digital, and community spaces—ensuring messages reach people where they are.

In Papua New Guinea, the National Prevention of Blindness Committee led a community blind walk in Wewak, encouraging open discussion about vision loss and the need for inclusive services.

Across the region, Sight For All is running a #LoveYourEyes matched giving campaign, doubling donations to support eye health training and services in Laos—and inviting supporters to share their own eye health messages.

A Shared Movement — Growing Stronger Each Year

Across the region, the message is clear: people care about their sight and are ready to act when given the knowledge and opportunity. From schoolyards to national parliaments, from community walks to clinical outreach, World Sight Day this year highlighted the strength of our shared commitment to eye health.

Together, we are making eye health visible, valued, and within reach for more people every year.