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The Fred Hollows Foundation Urges Immediate Action on Women's Eye Health This International Women's Day
The Fred Hollows Foundation is calling for urgent action to prioritise women and girls’ eye health, emphasising the profound impact blindness has on gender equity and sustainable development.
“Eyes are the windows to the soul, as the saying goes, but we know that they’re actually a window to gender equity,” said Jennifer Gersbeck, Executive Director – Influence and Scaling Impact at The Fred Hollows Foundation.
Women and girls account for 55% of the world’s blind and vision-impaired population. Without access to quality eye care, they are further entrenched in poverty, limiting their opportunities for education and economic independence.
A Life Transformed: Lien’s Story
For three years, 38-year-old Lien from Oudomxay province in Laos lived with blindness, unable to work or recognise the faces of her loved ones. Her 14-year-old daughter, Aomphai, was forced to leave school and take on long hours at a banana plantation to support their family. In addition to her work, she took on the responsibility of caring for her mother and younger brother.
With support from the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), The Fred Hollows Foundation provided Lien with eye surgery at an outreach camp in Oudomxay. The following day, as her eye patches were removed, she cried tears of joy—she could see again. The first person she saw was Aomphai, whom she reassured could now return to school.
Lien’s story underscores the critical need to break the cycle of poverty and gender inequality by ensuring access to essential eye care services for women and girls worldwide.
A Global Call to Action
The Fred Hollows Foundation is co-hosting a pivotal International Women’s Day event on 11 March at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women in New York, in collaboration with the UN Friends of Vision. Titled ‘No Woman Left Behind – Advancing Eye Health Equity for Women and Girls’, the event will highlight the essential role of eye health in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Influential leaders and policymakers, including UN Friends of Vision leadership and HRH, The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO, will convene to discuss systemic barriers preventing women from accessing eye care. A particular focus will be placed on global efforts to eliminate trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness that disproportionately affects women and girls.
“Without urgent action, millions of women and girls will continue to be left behind,” said Gersbeck. “This is a critical opportunity to advocate for concrete policies that ensure all women and girls have access to quality eye care, unlocking their full potential.”
The Road to the 2026 Global Summit on Eye Health
This event marks a key milestone leading up to the 2026 Global Summit on Eye Health, a global platform dedicated to securing policy commitments for equitable eye care. The Fred Hollows Foundation urges governments, organisations, and individuals to champion women’s right to sight. By investing in women’s eye health, we can break cycles of poverty, keep girls in school, and support women in the workforce.
