World Sight Day 2026:  8th October

World Sight Day 2026:

In 2 days 8th October 2026

Helping people with vision impairment to reach their potential

This World Sight Day, Sightsavers is inviting to take a journey into the heart of its work transforming lives through eye care

Globally, 1.1 billion people have an untreated or preventable visual impairment. all know that, in many cases, the solution can be as simple as an eye health screening, a pair of glasses or routine cataract surgery.

Improving eye care is a health imperative, but it is also an economic opportunity. Research from IAPB, Seva Foundation and Fred Hollows Foundation estimates that if low to middle income countries increase investment in eye care by 2030, it could generate US$199 billion in economic benefits2. IAPB data also shows that, on average, early intervention in child vision impairment could increase a child’s lifetime earnings by 78%.

For more than 70 years, Sightsavers has worked alongside governments, health services, local communities and other partners across Africa and Asia, to improve access to quality eye care, regardless of where they live,  their income, gender, health or background.

As part of World Sight Day 2026, Sightsavers is launching a range of digital content designed to bring supporters closer to this life-changing work. A new online  experience will allow audiences to explore stories from the communities supported by Sightsavers , meeting people whose lives have been transformed through access to eye care services and learning more about the impact that partnerships make possible.

This year’s WSD stories will also shine a spotlight on the businesses and organisations that help make that impact possible. Sightsavers will recognise a range of corporate partners supporting programmes in countries including Mozambique, India, Tanzania and Bangladesh, alongside organisations providing unrestricted funding that enables the charity to respond flexibly to emerging needs. Corporate supporters are helping to fund eye care services, such as cataract operations, screening programmes, provision of glasses, and wider initiatives that strengthen health systems and improve access to eye care.

Partnerships between businesses and charities have an increasingly important role to play in addressing global challenges. By combining resources, expertise and shared ambition, organisations can help expand access to healthcare, drive sustainable development and create lasting change for communities that are too often underserved.

World Sight Day provides an opportunity not only to celebrate progress, but also to recognise how much work remains to be done. Through collaboration and continued investment, we have the opportunity to change that.

Sightsavers is encouraging everyone to get involved by exploring our World Sight Day content online, sharing stories across social media and learning more about how eye health can unlock learning and earning opportunities, and greater independence.

You can support Sightsavers as an eye health professional or practitioner by becoming an Eye health partner , or your company can support our work as a Corporate partner. For further information on both, contact James Lwanda on .

Together, we can help make avoidable vision impairment truly avoidable.

SightSavers and Opchat News are Media charity partners, please support them in their aims 

FODO is supporting a campaign on the importance of testing children’s eyes, centred on World Sight Day on 8 October. The campaign will include cross channel promotion including press and broadcast opportunities.

This is a great opportunity for the entire practice team to get involved. So please do encourage optometrists, dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians and the wider team to support and promote the campaign locally.

The College of Optometrists has also created a children’s eye health resource hub, which offers online learning and CPD resources to help registrants prepare for an increase in request for children’s eye tests.