Celebrating the World Sight Day 2025: Seeing Starts from Daily Actions

In response to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), the Taiwan Prevent Blindness Foundation(TPB) has set the theme for this year’s World Sight Day campaign as “LOVE YOUR EYES ACTIONS – LOVE YOUR EYES KIDS & LOVE YOUR EYES AT WORK,” calling on the public to prioritize daily eye care actions. The foundation is also promoting ophthalmic research and clinical practice exchanges, while simultaneously hosting “The 4th Jui-Fang Tsai MD Ophthalmology Academic Promote Award.” Through these actions, the foundation aims to encourage physicians to engage in research, thereby ensuring the continuous advancement of ophthalmology in Taiwan and its alignment with international standards.

This year, the event is honored by the presence of distinguished guests, including Kuo Wei-Chung, an official at the Ministry of Health and Welfare Department of Medical Affairs; Hu Yi-Jun, an official at the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare; as well as Dr. Huang Chi-Chang, Dr. Huang Wen-Long, and Academic Advisor Dr. Wu Pei-chang.

Academic Forum Connecting Taiwan’s Medicine with the World

The judging panel this year assembled experts from the ophthalmology field: Dr. Chen Shih-Jen, Director of the Ophthalmology Department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital; Dr. Ho Jau-Der, Department of Ophthalmology at Taipei Medical University Hospital; Chen, Hsin-Yi, Director of the Ophthalmology Department at Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital; and Dr. Wen, Yao-Tseng, Research Assistant Professor at Hualien Tzu Chi General Hospital. The final academic paper review panel consisted of TPB Chairman Tsai, Jui-Fang, Director Tsai Rong-Kung, and Director Lin Tzou-Yien, upheld principles of fairness and professionalism to select six outstanding winners from numerous excellent papers, each bringing innovation and clinical value to the field of ophthalmology.

This year’s top honor—the Gold Eye Award—goes to Dr. Chen Hung-Chi, Director of the Cornea Section in the Ophthalmology Department at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , for his long-term tracking of premature infant data, including corneal endothelial cell morphology, which helps understand corneal and refractive changes in premature infants.

The Silver Eye Awards are awarded to Dr. Chang Kao-Jung of the Ophthalmology Department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and Dr. Tsai Hou-Ren of the Ophthalmology Department at Hualien Tzu Chi General Hospital. The Bronze Eye Award recipients are Dr. Yang Yu-Chieh, Researcher at the Ophthalmology Department of Taipei Veterans General Hospital; Dr. Lin Ting-Han of the Ophthalmology Department at China Medical University Hospital; and Dr. Chang Hsin-Ho of the Ophthalmology Department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

Among the submissions are interdisciplinary AI research with innovative potential for future clinical imaging developments, as well as studies on changes in preschool children’s 3C device usage time, outdoor activity duration, and myopia prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Behind each paper lies a physician’s continuous exploration and pursuit of progress. The foundation hopes that through this honor, more ophthalmologists will dedicate themselves to research, allowing “the right to see” to be protected by more people.

“Pioneers of Taiwanese Ophthalmology”: Passing the Torch of Light

The advancement of ophthalmology in Taiwan is not the result of overnight success but the accumulation of belief and passion across generations of physicians.

This year, the “Taiwan Ophthalmology Pioneer Memorial Award” was specially presented to pay the deepest respects to predecessors who laid the foundation during difficult early periods. The award honors four pioneering figures in ophthalmology, whose expertise and dedication propelled medical care, education, and public health forward, illuminating the path from basics to excellence for future generations.

• Professor Yang Yen-Fei: Promoted ophthalmology development in the early post-restoration period in Taiwan and introduced the American residency system. He led Taiwan’s first large-scale trachoma prevention program, significantly reducing Taiwan’s trachoma rate.
• Professor Lin Ho-Ming: Published classic papers in neuro-ophthalmology, laying the foundation for the development of Taiwan’s neuro-ophthalmology field. He devoted his life to grassroots clinic tours and rural medical care, traveling extensively to provide diagnosis and surgery for retired military personnel.
• Professor Chen Zhen-Wu: Dedicated to developing ophthalmology medicine in southern Taiwan and nurturing future generations. He made outstanding contributions to trachoma prevention, corneal transplantation, glaucoma treatment, and public health, and established Taiwan’s first eye bank, catalyzing the Eye Cornea Transplantation Regulation.
• Professor Chen Te-Tsaw: Completed Asia’s first radial keratotomy, Taiwan’s first soft intraocular lens implantation surgery, and pioneered the establishment of optical dispensing rooms and artificial eye rooms attached to hospital ophthalmology departments in Taiwan, leading refractive and corneal surgery.

From the introduction of modern medicine during the Japanese colonial period to the post-war pioneers who promoted clinical treatment in difficult circumstances, established residency systems, and developed academic exchanges, the efforts of these predecessors have created today’s solid medical and educational system.

Corporations and Celebrities Join Forces to Speak Up for EYES

Taiwan Prevent Blindness Foundation not only fosters an academic hub but also spreads a feast of loving actions.

Foundation Goodwill Ambassador Shara Lin performed the foundation’s anthem “Oath of Light,” marking its public debut. The song composed by herself and lyricized by Chairman Tsai Jui-Fang, describes the Chairman’s resolve as a physician to protect people with eye diseases from blindness.

Also supporting the event was the Foundation Advocacy Ambassador Liu Ting-Ting, a news anchor who took time from her busy news reporting schedule to show support. She led the audience in the “Eye Action Pledge,” promoting the importance of everyday eye care. Leading by example, she pledged, “No using phones in the dark,” and then warmly stepped off the stage to interact with guests, ensuring everyone integrates eye care awareness into their daily lives.

Finally, the Foundation’s public services are sustained and far-reaching thanks to the generous support of corporate partners. Mega Securities Co., Ltd., Viatris Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Visco Vision Inc. were all present to offer their strong support, collectively helping the TPB to promote free clinics in remote areas and public health education for all, uniting their efforts for the prevention of blindness.

Taiwan Prevent Blindness Foundation will continue to unite the forces of academia, philanthropy, and corporations, making “Love Your Eyes” a collective action for the entire society, every day.