Bangladesh pledges $130M to expand eye care nationwide

DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh has pledged $130 million over the next five years to expand eye care services nationwide, aiming to prevent avoidable blindness and improve access to treatment for millions of people, particularly in underserved communities.

The investment will provide primary eye care to approximately 20 million people, fund one million free cataract surgeries and distribute 10 million pairs of eyeglasses across the country.

The commitment was announced at the Global Summit for Eye Health, hosted by Antigua and Barbuda and co-hosted by Bangladesh, Guyana, Ireland and Nigeria, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

Bangladesh, home to approximately 176 million people, faces significant challenges in addressing preventable and treatable vision impairment, particularly among rural populations and low-income workers who struggle to access affordable medical services.

According to IAPB estimates, investing approximately $129 million in eye health between 2026 and 2030 could generate $2.31 billion in economic benefits by improving productivity, educational opportunities and workforce participation.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. M. A. Muhit, said the government was committed to making vision screening and treatment accessible to every citizen through the national healthcare system.

“We would like to promote, prevent and treat blindness and visual impairment and associated diseases through our national health system,” Muhit said, emphasizing cooperation with national and international development organizations.

The initiative is expected to particularly benefit people whose livelihoods depend on clear vision, including garment workers, transport workers and rural laborers.

A study conducted under the THRIVE trial found that providing reading glasses to workers performing tasks requiring close vision increased their median monthly income by 33.4%, highlighting the economic impact of affordable eye care.

VisionSpring, an international nonprofit working to expand access to eyeglasses, has separately committed to correcting the vision of 7.5 million people in Bangladesh by 2030.

Misha Mahjabeen, VisionSpring’s managing director in Bangladesh, said the organization would strengthen partnerships with factories, international brands and transport associations to reach workers who often lack access to vision services.

“Eyeglasses are not a luxury. They are a powerful tool for improving livelihoods, independence and well-being,” Mahjabeen said.

A recent nationwide study also found that 3.2% of Bangladeshis aged 35 and older had glaucoma, an eye disease that can cause irreversible vision loss without timely diagnosis and treatment.

The government’s investment forms part of broader international commitments announced at the summit to combat avoidable blindness, expand affordable treatment and improve access to essential eye care, particularly for women, children and economically disadvantaged communities.