Join the Leading Global Eye Health Alliance.
Membership-
Choose an alternate language here
- Membership
The global ophthalmology community gathered in Singapore from 24-26 July 2026 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC). The SNEC International Meeting was held in conjunction with the 8th Asia-Pacific Glaucoma Congress (APGC), and the congress brought together more than 2,600 delegates and faculty from nearly 50 countries to exchange knowledge, showcase innovation and strengthen international collaboration in eye health.
Over three days, the meeting featured 14 keynote lectures, 35 scientific symposia and 15 masterclasses, covering the latest advances in major eye diseases, artificial intelligence (AI), novel imaging and surgical techniques, landmark clinical trials and emerging approaches to clinical care. The meeting also served as a platform for discussing how innovation, research and partnerships can help address the growing global burden of vision impairment.
The anniversary celebrated the vision of Professor Arthur Lim, SNEC’s founding Medical Director, whose leadership transformed the institution into one of the world’s leading eye centres. His commitment to clinical excellence, education and research continues to shape SNEC’s work today.
Opening the meeting, Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, an ophthalmologist and former SNEC Medical Director, paid tribute to Professor Lim’s enduring legacy. He reflected on three principles that defined SNEC’s success: an unwavering commitment to raising clinical standards through continuous audit and learning; investing in training and skills transfer; and embedding research as a core part of patient care. These values, he noted, enabled SNEC to remain at the forefront of ophthalmology while continually improving outcomes for patients.
While the conference showcased cutting-edge clinical science, it also recognised that innovation alone is not enough. Delivering better eye health outcomes requires strong health systems, a skilled workforce and effective partnerships.
These themes were explored in the Global Eye Health Symposium: Advancing Vision for All: Prevention, Capacity Building and Sustainable Practices. This symposium brought together experts from across the region to discuss blindness prevention, workforce development, AI-enabled screening, research collaboration, sustainability and country experiences in strengthening eye care systems.
Representing IAPB, Fabrizio D’Esposito, Head of the Western Pacific Region, delivered a presentation on “Prevention of Blindness: Strategies and Global Initiatives” His presentation highlighted IAPB’s work in advancing integrated, people-centred eye care through advocacy, partnerships and health system strengthening, reinforcing that scientific advances should be accompanied by coordinated action to ensure they translate into improved access and better outcomes for all.
On 26 July 2026, the meeting concluded with an Industry Roundtable that brought together key stakeholders to discuss practical pathways for strengthening eye care delivery, particularly in developing countries. The conversation centred on translating the scientific advances showcased throughout the conference into tangible improvements on the ground.
Participants highlighted the persistent gap between what is possible and what is accessible. Many regions continue to face shortages of essential equipment from operating microscopes to calibrated thermometers and intraocular lenses alongside challenges in maintaining infrastructure once warranties expire. The roundtable underscored the need for local training and support systems that extend well beyond initial implementation, ensuring that equipment and expertise remain effective over the long term.
Medication accessibility was equally prominent in the discussion, with participants calling for greater attention to the availability of essential medicines in underserved settings. Delegates agreed that any planning or partnership effort must account for these realities from the outset rather than as an afterthought.
A recurring theme was the importance of building sustainable local ecosystems. Rather than one-off interventions, participants advocated for deeper engagement with local stakeholders, supported by corporate social responsibility initiatives and collaborative partnerships including Singapore-based engineering teams already providing equipment repair support in the region. Capacity building through both in-person and online training in areas such as retina and glaucoma care was identified as a key lever for lasting impact.
The roundtable closed with a shared commitment to continuing these conversations and translating them into concrete action, reinforcing that the future of global eye health depends as much on equitable access as it does on scientific discovery.
The SNEC 35th Anniversary International Meeting celebrated more than three decades of clinical excellence. It demonstrated how the future of ophthalmology lies at the intersection of innovation, research and partnership. As populations age and demand for eye care continues to increase, advances in AI, diagnostics and treatment must be matched by investments in workforce development, stronger health systems and international collaboration.
Thirty-five years after Professor Arthur Lim first envisioned a world-class eye centre for Singapore, SNEC continues to bring together the global eye health community, not only to share scientific discoveries, but to work collectively towards a future where quality eye care is accessible to everyone.
