Women’s eye health: The Fred Hollows Foundation's call for change this International Women’s Day

(Image credit: AdobeStock/Ekaterina Pokrovsky)

The Fred Hollows Foundation is calling for immediate global action to prioritize women’s and girls’ eye health, emphasizing its crucial role in achieving gender equity and sustainable development.

“Eyes are the windows 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, yet limited access to eye care keeps them trapped in poverty.”

In partnership with the UN Friends of Vision, The Fred Hollows Foundation is co-hosting an International Women’s Day event on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women in New York. Titled “No Woman Left Behind – Advancing Eye Health Equity for Women and Girls,” the event will include UN Friends of Vision leadership and HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO to discuss global efforts to eliminate trachoma and other gender-based disparities in eye care.

“This is a critical opportunity to push for policies that guarantee all women and girls access to quality eye care. Investing in women’s eye health helps break cycles of poverty, keeps girls in school, and empowers women in the workforce," Gersbeck added. The event marks a key milestone leading up to the 2026 Global Summit on Eye Health, which aims to secure policy commitments for equitable eye care worldwide.

The March 11 event will take place from 12–1:15 PM EST at the Japan Society, located at 333 East 47th Street, New York (on the corner of 1st Avenue). To register to attend the event either online or in person, click here.