Nairobi, Kenya, October 9, 2025- Kenya could unlock up to KSh 33 billion every year by investing in simple, cost-effective eye health initiatives such as school eye tests and on-the-spot reading glasses, new research released to mark World Sight Day has revealed.
The report, published by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in collaboration with the Seva Foundation and the Fred Hollows Foundation, shows that for every KSh 130 invested in eye health, the country could see a return of about KSh 1,300 — a tenfold benefit.
According to the study, delivering six priority interventions in eye health would yield an annual economic gain of more than KSh 33 billion, including KSh 19.7 billion from improved productivity, KSh 5.3 billion from increased employment, and KSh 3.3 billion from reduced caregiving demands. The initiative could also translate into the equivalent of 8,628 extra years of schooling for students.
IAPB’s “Love Your Eyes” campaign, which released the Kenya data for World Sight Day, is urging citizens to prioritize eye health and book eye tests, emphasizing that most sight loss can be prevented or treated with affordable solutions such as cataract surgery and eyeglasses.
An estimated 7.5 million Kenyans currently live with avoidable sight loss, which often leads to unemployment, reduced income, poor educational outcomes, and increased caregiving burdens — challenges that disproportionately affect women.
Senator Crystal Asige, Secretary General of the Kenya Disabled Parliamentarians Association and Chairperson for Persons with Disabilities in the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association, called for stronger government action on eye health.
“We often take our sight for granted, but it’s a gateway to everything — from education to earning a living. The research is clear: investing in eye health brings significant returns for our entire country,” Asige said. “Decision-makers must commit to implementing proven, cost-effective priorities like school vision screenings and providing reading glasses where they are needed most.”
Victor Opiyo, President of the Optometrists Association of Kenya (OAK), said the findings confirm what practitioners witness daily.
“The solutions to sight loss are simple, affordable, and life-changing. With the right investment, we can restore vision for millions of Kenyans and unlock billions for our economy. Eye health is essential to education, productivity, and the dignity of our people,” he said.
IAPB Chief Executive Officer Peter Holland noted that sight loss is a universal issue but emphasized that it can be addressed through scalable interventions.
“Most sight loss can be prevented with simple measures such as expanding sight tests, providing glasses, and improving cataract surgery,” Holland said. “By investing in vision, we invest in our future.”
The Value of Vision report was launched at a high-level meeting during the United Nations General Assembly and analyzes the economic benefits of preventing sight loss across low- and middle-income countries.
