What is VISION 2020?

VISION 2020 is the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness, a joint programme of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) with an international membership of NGOs, professional associations, eye care institutions and corporations.

Over two decades, it is hoped that VISION 2020 will prevent 100 million people from becoming blind.
VISION 2020, through WHO, IAPB and its member organisations, provides technical support and advocacy to prevention of blindness activities worldwide. At the national level, a strong partnership between Ministry of Health, national and international NGOs, professional organisations, and civil society groups – brought together in a national prevention of blindness or VISION 2020 committee – should facilitate the development and implementation of effective and sustainable national eye care plans.

VISION 2020 seeks to eliminate the main causes of avoidable blindness in order to give all people in the world, particularly the millions of needlessly blind, the right to sight
The goal is to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020. In the long term, the initiative seeks to ensure the best possible vision for all people, thereby improving their quality of life. This goal should be achieved through the establishment of a sustainable, comprehensive eye-care system as an integral part of every national health system.

cbm is a founding member and a driving force of VISION 2020: the right to sight.