The Value of Vision: The Case for Investment

The Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, with the support of the UN Friends of Vision group and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), will host a high-level side event, The Value of Vision: The Case for Investment on the margins of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. As a fundamental driver of sustainable development, Eye health remains underfunded despite affecting more than 2.2 billion people worldwide and costing an estimated $411 billion annually in lost productivity. Building on UNGA Resolution 75/310, Vision for Everyone, the event will highlight the transformative impact of eye health investment across the human lifespan, preview new research from the upcoming publication, The Value of Vision: The Case for Investing in Eye Health, and bring together Heads of State, government ministries, UN leaders, and development partners to examine how eye health strengthens health systems, improves learning outcomes, and increases workforce productivity. The discussions will showcase evidence, share national progress, and set out policy and financing priorities that will drive ambitious commitments and momentum towards the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health.