Towards better vision: WHO South-East Asia regional meeting on eye health

The WHO South-East Asia Regional Meeting on Eye Health was convened to address the substantial and persistent burden of avoidable vision impairment in the Region. South-East Asia accountsfor nearly one third of the world’s blind and visually impaired population, with cataract, uncorrected refractive error, and diabetic retinopathy contributing to more than 90 percent of cases. The meeting responded to the need for coordinated action to achieve the 2030 global targets for effective cataract surgical coverage and effective refractive error coverage, and to advance implementation of the Regional Action Plan for Integrated People Centred Eye Care. It provided a platform for reviewing progress, identifying system gaps, and strengthening country pathways to accelerate universal access to quality eye care.

Across three days of technical deliberations and field exposure, participants examined global and regional developments, effective coverage metrics, and practical tools that strengthen planning, monitoring, and service delivery.

Day 1 focused on global guidance for implementing IPEC, the rollout of SPECS 2030, and analytical presentations on measuring and improving effective coverage. Discussions highlighted persistent quality gaps in cataract services, limited refractive error coverage, and the critical importance of robust information systems. Structured group work supported a deeper understanding of how countries can improve provider level outcomes, strengthen referral pathways, and address community-level barriers.

Day 2 centred on integrating diabetic retinopathy screening and referral into primary care. Country experiences from Thailand, Bhutan, and India demonstrated the potential of technology-enabled screening, task-sharing, and telemedicine to increase early detection and timely management. Group work reinforced the need for strengthened governance, costed national plans, digital systems for tracking referrals, and practical models that can be scaled through primary health care platforms. A field visit to Aravind Vision Centres and comprehensive outreach camps provided participants with practical exposure to efficient service delivery, community engagement, and integrated workflows.

Day 3 translated technical learning into coordinated actions. Countries developed targeted plans for scaling SPECS, expanding DR screening and treatment, strengthening data systems for eREC and eCSC, and operationalizing the proposed SEA-net work for eye health service provider. A panel of collaborating centres identified opportunities for joint leadership, harmonized technical support, capacity building, and evidence generation.

The meeting concluded with ten strategic recommendations that emphasized strengthened leadership and coordination, integration of eye care within primary care and NCD platforms, scalable service delivery models, workforce development, improved data and digital systems, access to essential technologies, innovation, evidence generation, community engagement, and sustainable financing. These priority actions provide a coherent regional pathway for achieving equitable and high-quality eye care services for all populations in the South-East Asia Region by 2030.