ONESIGHT ESSILORLUXOTTICA FOUNDATION JOINS WHO'S SPECS 2030 INITIATIVE FOR GLOBAL EYE HEALTH

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global partner on the WHO’s SPECS 2030 initiative.

This initiative builds on the world’s first-ever global target to increase effective refractive error coverage by 40 per cent by 2030, which was endorsed by WHO Member States in 2021 at the World Health Assembly.

OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation President and EssilorLuxottica Head of Mission, Anurag Hans highlighted the transformative potential of the collaboration, stating that 961 million people in some of the most remote communities now have access to vision care services within a day’s journey, and 84 million pairs of eyeglasses have been distributed to those in need thanks to the foundation’s efforts.

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"Uncorrected poor vision affects 2.7 billion people worldwide, posing a significant challenge. By uniting WHO’s leadership in public health with our expertise in delivering innovative, on-the-ground solutions, we believe we can create a multiplier effect to extend vision care to even the most underserved regions,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, WHO Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage, Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases, Dr Jérôme Salomon emphasised the importance of collaborative action in achieving global eye health targets.

"Vision care is not just a health priority – it is a social and economic imperative. The SPECS 2030 initiative, which underpins the UN ‘Vision for Everyone’ resolution, reminds us that effective collaboration can amplify impact, delivering tangible results for communities worldwide," said Salomon.

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This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to improving lives through better vision and advancing progress toward Sustainable Development Goals, especially in health, education, and economic participation.

The collaboration will focus on sharing knowledge, providing technical input, and enhancing data to improve global access to vision care, particularly in low-resource areas. Both organisations aim to implement the UN’s ‘Vision for Everyone’ resolution, addressing myopia, refractive errors, and social inclusion through sustainable solutions.

The WHO SPECS 2030 initiative accelerates global eye health efforts by focusing on five key pillars, namely services, improving access to refractive services; personnel, building the capacity of eye care professionals; education, promoting public awareness about eye health; cost, reducing the cost of eyeglasses and services; and surveillance, strengthening data collection and research.

Across these areas, the foundation will provide technical input, share best practices, and contribute data to inform WHO’s initiatives in alignment with the global eye care target of effective refractive error coverage.

-- BERNAMA