Sightsavers on Thursday called on Bangladesh’s government, donors, and the private and public sectors to expand access to eye care, citing estimates that higher investment could generate more than BDT 283 billion in economic benefits by 2030.

In a statement to mark World Sight Day, the international development organisation said 2020 findings showed more than 26.6 million people in Bangladesh live with vision impairment.

Sightsavers’ call comes ahead of the inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health in November, which Bangladesh will co-host with the government of Antigua and Barbuda in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

The summit is intended to draw commitments on behalf of people with avoidable vision impairment, including cataract and refractive errors.

Sightsavers said services such as cataract surgery and spectacles can help children learn, increase employment opportunities and help people take part more fully in society, while boosting productivity and advancing universal health coverage.

Citing IAPB data, it said early intervention in child vision impairment in Bangladesh could raise a child's lifetime earnings by 45 percent.

Sightsavers said eye care remains overlooked in many health and development plans, particularly among communities disproportionately affected by vision issues. More than 85 percent of people with vision impairment live in low- and middle-income countries, and women and girls account for more than half of those affected.

“The solutions already exist. Glasses, cataract surgery and stronger eye care systems can transform lives, yet too many people still cannot access the support they need,” said Amrita Rejina Rozario, country director at Sightsavers Bangladesh.

She cited the Global Summit for Eye Health as an opportunity for governments, donors and the private and public sectors to turn commitments into action.

Sightsavers would work with governments and partners to strengthen health services, save and protect sight and help more people live full, independent lives, including by supporting eye health professionals, bringing services closer to communities and ensuring vision and eye care form part of inclusive health, education, livelihood and social inclusion, Rozario said.

In Bangladesh, Sightsavers works with the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital and with government and private hospitals, providing technical support in 17 districts. It says it conducts more than 1 million eye screenings and performs over 70,000 cataract surgeries in the country each year.

Sightsavers and 13 partner organisations are marking World Sight Day with mini-marathons, rallies, eye camps and free distribution of spectacles, among other activities.