By signing this important piece of legislation, the Canadian government has established itself as a global leader by prioritizing eye health care as an integral part of universal health care, while also achieving many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Canada, health care is a right. This Bill now makes eye health care a right as well. The passage of Bill C-284 gives hope to the one in five Canadians suffering from a condition that puts them at risk of blindness (eight million people) and the 1.2 million Canadians living with vision loss, figures which come from the 2023 Report Card on Vision Health in Canada, released by Fighting Blindness Canada and the Canadian Council of the Blind. The report states that every year, our national economic burden from vision loss is 32.9 billion dollars. The passage of Bill C-284 is about far more than sight – it is about education for children, employment for adults and independence for seniors.

Kashinath Bhoosnurmath, President and CEO of Operation Eyesight Universal, says, “Today, Canadians have achieved the right to sight, as our universal health care will incorporate eye health care for all, with the passing of Bill C-284, the National Strategy for Eye Care Act, into law. Eye health care too is a priority now in Canada.  This impacts us all. The law will support the many Canadians who have eye conditions they do not know they have. It will also shine a light into the lives of the millions of Canadians who struggle not only with their vision but also with accessing the eye health care they need—across every part of Canada. This inclusive bill signifies that eye health care must be available, accessible and affordable, and it will support child development and learning, adult employment and productivity and senior connection and independence. We are delighted that Canada has the vision to step forward as a national and international leader. We can all see the benefits ahead.”

The importance of this legislation cannot be overstated. Universal eye health care is proactive, preventative and supportive. It includes regular eye exams, early detection of eye conditions, treatment and ongoing supports. For some, treatment can be as simple as getting a pair of prescription eyeglasses which can be transformative – recent research found that students who don’t get the eyeglasses they need learn half as much as students with good or corrected vision, according to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. This research also stated that when vision is corrected in school it can influence lifelong earnings by up to 78 per cent. This example shows that eye health care impacts not only individuals but also local and global economies. Eye health contributes to several of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have been set to build a more peaceful and prosperous world. These include good health and well-being, quality education and poverty reduction. 

For decades, Operation Eyesight has brought inclusive eye health care to communities and regions in countries in Africa and South Asia. We do this by partnering with national, regional, and local governments and leaders, including the ministries of health and education. We act as a bridge between communities, connecting every child, woman and man to local eye health care.

In Alberta, we have been piloting eye health care programs by working with medically underserved communities. We are building relationships with and listening to communities to understand their unique needs, cultures, lived experiences and lifestyles (rural, urban and more), while growing our capacity to support this work in a good way. We know that inclusive eye health care works when people are aware of its importance, it is available and accessible when and where people need it – close to home, school or work – and it is open to all regardless of ability to pay.

We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with governments, organizations and community leaders in Canada to inform this new national eye care strategy. We look forward to contributing our voice to advocate for it to be inclusive so that it is accessible, affordable and available to all. We will continue to raise awareness of the importance of eye health and the need for eye health care in Canada. Together, let us take a long view of our collective right to sight. 

Kris Kelm, Global Director, International Programs, Operation Eyesight Universal 

Kashinath Bhoosnurmath, President & CEO, Operation Eyesight Universal

About Operation Eyesight Universal  operationeyesight.com

Operation Eyesight Universal is an international development organization and registered charity working to prevent blindness and restore sight. Our vision is the elimination of avoidable vision loss. Founded in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1963, we are now a global community spanning four continents – Africa, Europe, North America and South Asia. Our vision is global and our focus is local, with teams on the ground in communities of work. Through activities like community outreach, water and sanitation projects, and health education, we at Operation Eyesight are addressing the root causes of avoidable vision loss which contribute to six United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: no poverty, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, and partnerships for the goals.

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In the month leading up to World Sight Day, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) hosted the EVERYONE COUNTS global challenge, where everyone was encouraged to pledge to have a sight test or care for their eyes. The goal? One million pledges. My team at Operation Eyesight and I were determined to contribute to this goal, and to champion this year’s theme of #LoveYourEyes.

During the week of World Sight Day, our global team screened 4,491 individuals, performed or booked 270 cataract surgeries, provided 297 pairs of prescription eyeglasses, and trained 28 community health nurses in primary eye care. Our digital awareness campaign reached over 46,000 people, encouraging them to take the #LoveYourEyes pledge and to learn more about why EVERYONE COUNTS.

And thanks to global efforts, IAPB beat their goal by 370 percent, receiving over 3.5 million pledges!

Below are more of our World Sight Day highlights from around the globe.

KENYA

Our team in Kenya launched the Iten out-patient department, hosted screening camps in Kitale and held an outreach camp for children at a rural school.

ZAMBIA

In Zambia, the Matero Vision Centre was formally launched on World Sight Day. Our team also conducted two community eye health awareness events and two outreach screening events.

GHANA

In Ghana, a training session in primary eye care was facilitated for a group of 28 community health nurses, and an outreach camp providing screening and surgery was hosted.

INDIA

Our team in India inagurated nine vision centers, screened 2,431 people through various outreach activities, launched two vision centres, and distributed 75 pairs of perscription eyeglasses at a school screening camp.

CANADA

The Alex in Calgary, Canada, hosted a free eye screening event in partnership with Operation Eyesight and the Essilor Vision Foundation Canada.  

 The event brought in the Calgary-based EvolutionEyes, a mobile vision centre that provided pre-booked eye exams for clients of The Alex. Those who require eyeglasses will receive a pair as provided by their health benefits or by the Essilor Vision Foundation Canada.

Through Operation Eyesight’s community eye health model, we’re able to empower people to take control of their health and encourage health-seeking behavior. This model has been successful in South Asia and Africa due to effective local partnerships. Effective partnerships can help us meet the eye health care needs of underserved populations here in Canada as well. This event is the first step towards making that happen.

Our global celebrations of World Sight Day highlight the incredible work being done by Operation Eyesight and our partners around the world, with support from our generous donors. We know that eye health is essential to thriving communities, and that 90 percent of eye health problems are avoidable or treatable. Prioritizing eye health and reducing the barrier of accessibility can lead to profound results. Thank you – to my colleagues and to our donors and partners – for your ongoing support as we work to prevent blindness and restore sight for all those in need. Because EVERYONE COUNTS.

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