Global meet to Shape the Future of Child Eye Health

A two-day online international symposium, Child Eye Health, A ‘Call to Action’ has commenced. It brings together over 1,700 delegates and experts from around the world, uniting policymakers, public health specialists, and vision care advocates. The global meet is dedicated to addressing the existing gaps in child eye health, ultimately benefiting children worldwide and empowering the next generation with clear, healthy vision.

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The symposium comes at a time of major challenges in children's eye health. Globally, children's vision problems result in the equivalent loss of 6.3 million years of schooling every year. Nearly one in three children and teens worldwide are expected to be affected by myopia by 2050, translating to over 740 million cases. In India, 500 million people need spectacles, yet over 250 million lack access. Among children under 16, approximately 7.5% suffer from uncorrected refractive errors in the country. Many of these conditions could be prevented or treated with timely intervention, yet millions of children still do not have access to essential eye care services. Studies suggest that with proper vision correction, children may learn up to twice as effectively and potentially earn 55.6% more over their lifetime.

Hosted by India Vision Institute (IVI) from Chennai, One School at a Time, Berkeley Vision, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, and UNICEF, and supported by CooperVision, the symposium focuses on scalable solutions, policy recommendations, and cross-sector partnerships to ensure every child has the right to clear vision.

"Uncorrected vision problems can significantly impact a child's learning potential. This conference will help drive forward sustainable, scalable solutions," said Professor John G Flanagan, Director of Berkeley Vision.

"Millions of children in underserved regions lack access to basic eye care. Our goal is to bridge this gap. We believe that empowering children with the gift of sight leads to brighter futures,” said Vinod Daniel, CEO of India Vision Institute.

"Clear vision is a fundamental right. By investing in children's eye health today, we are shaping a more equitable and productive future for all. However, we need to develop programs at scale to really make a difference," said Prof. Kovin Naidoo, Global Head of Advocacy and Partnership of OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation.