Key Takeaways from the 14th Annual Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Summit
Editor:
Riya Patel, BS
Riya is a second-year medical student at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
The 14th Annual Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Summit took place on May 14th, 2025 and gathered global experts, industry leaders, and eye health advocates not only from the U.S. but also international members. The theme this year was “Perspectives in Vision” and we did a deep dive into the cross-sectional key action points of the event. Keep reading for more information on addressing disparities in global vision care for ophthalmologists, policymakers, scientists, government leaders, advocates, and more! For more information, click here!
Integration of Eye Health into Universal Health Coverage and National Plans
Jennifer Jones, President & CEO of Fighting Blindness Canada, and Elisabeth Fowler, Executive Director and CEO of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, highlighted the importance of eye health despite being sidelined by national agenda policies. It is known that vision loss has widespread economic, educational, and social consequences and needs to be better addressed. Jones and Fowler looked towards Canada’s recent progress on eye health and vision care and they implemented national strategies on early detection and prevention of eye related conditions. They stressed that without specific actionable items for incorporating eye care into universal health coverage, national plans, and public health budgets, millions of people globally will not get the eye care they need. This discussion serves as a call to action for advocacy for national vision plans that include refraction checks, DR and AMD screenings, and cataract services as part of basic health packages.
Using Data-Drive Policy to Close the Global Vision Equity Gap
Throughout the 2025 summit, equity was a defining theme. Various speakers highlighted how racial, geographic, and economic disparities contribute to vastly different vision outcomes. In the United States, there were higher rates of reported uncorrected refractive error and diabetic retinopathy in Black and Latinx populations. It was also called to attention that these disparities, although present in developed countries, are likely much more pronounced in lower and middle income countries. However, they remain invisible due to the lack of data collection, analysis and infrastructure in these regions. Researchers and government leaders need to continue to collaborate to collect and publish local data on vision outcomes in low and middle income countries based on race, gender, ethnicity, and income. Additionally, promoting culturally tailored screening models and treatment protocols and providing dedicated eye care funding to these marginalized groups are necessary steps to close the vision equity gap.
Responsibility with Technology: Artificial Intelligence, Telehealth, Remote Screenings, and More
Recent advances in AI and telehealth have changed the future of eyecare. The 2025 Summit discussed how AI is already decreasing diagnostic delays for common conditions like diabetic retinopathy and how telehealth is bringing eye care to rural areas. However, technology experts, including clinicians, scientists, and regulators, spent time cautioning participants about how rapid technological expansion with limited regulation and oversight could exacerbate disparities. For instance, training large language models to process ophthalmic imaging from homogenous populations could skew care for others. As we continue to explore and develop AI, we need to keep in mind how to maintain scalable but equitable care by training algorithms with diverse datasets and continuing to push for regulation and standardization of technology advancements in ophthalmology.
In conclusion, the 2025 Focus on Eye Health Summit underscored a critical truth: vision care must be a global health priority. Through powerful discussions on universal coverage, equity-driven policies, and responsible innovation, experts called for urgent, coordinated action. As technology evolves and disparities persist, the path forward demands inclusive strategies, sustainable funding, and a renewed commitment to making quality eye care accessible for all—regardless of geography, race, or income.
References
https://preventblindness.org/2025-eyesummit-presentations/
