That's why we do it.
We fight preventable blindness. Lack of access to eye care can have devastating consequences for poverty, equality, health and well-being.
Equal opportunities.
90% of vision loss is found in low- and middle-income countries, with the poor and extremely poor lagging behind the most. Vision loss costs the global economy $411 billion every year in lost productivity alone.
The burden of most eye diseases and visual impairments is not distributed equally. Lack of access to eye care is one of the biggest reasons for this unequal distribution.
Good vision for a meaningful life.
Vision supports the development of social skills, strengthens friendships, increases self-esteem and maintains well-being. It is also important for participation in sports and social activities, which are essential for physical development, mental and physical health, personal identity and socialization.
We create opportunities for children.
Young children with early onset severe visual impairment can experience delayed motor, language, emotional, social and cognitive development with lifelong consequences. School children with visual impairment can also have lower educational attainment and self-esteem compared to peers with normal vision.