ZEISS Reinforces the Importance of Visual Health on World Sight Day 2025

Aalen, Germany | 6 October 2025 | ZEISS Vision Care

ZEISS reaffirms its commitment to lifelong visual health on World Sight Day 2025, celebrated on October 9th. As a foundation-owned company, ZEISS believes that access to eye care is a fundamental right for all. Recognizing that visual health issues can be effectively addressed when services and treatments are easily accessible, ZEISS is dedicated to supporting eye care initiatives that promote accessibility, availability, and affordability for needed care worldwide.

Globally, at least 2.2 billion people are affected by near or distance vision impairment. In at least 1 billion of these cases, the impairment was preventable or remains unaddressed. The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness worldwide are refractive errors and cataracts. Despite the prevalence of these conditions globally, it is estimated that only 36% of people with a distance vision impairment due to refractive error and only 17% of people with vision impairment due to cataract have received appropriate intervention.¹

ZEISS is committed to addressing these challenges with comprehensive solutions and fostering a world in which everyone has the opportunity to enjoy clear vision and visual health. As a pioneer of scientific optics, ZEISS continues to challenge the limits of human imagination to create better pathways to eye care and inspire the world to see in new ways. Examples include how ZEISS Vision Care Spain opened a community eye clinic in Senegal in cooperation with Dentists on Wheels and the Cione Ruta de la Luz Foundation, and ZEISS Medical Technology is supporting access to cataract surgery in rural Brazil.

World Sight Day takes place annually on the second Thursday of October and serves as a global awareness day focusing on blindness and vision impairment. This year’s theme “Every story counts” encourages people to share perspectives and insights, emphasizing the importance of loving and caring for one’s eyes.

“ZEISS Vision Care works on numerous initiatives to ensure that eye health is also possible for those in need. Whether it's a new pair of glasses that allows a child to play basketball again or providing an eye screening in underserved regions, even these simplest of actions can transform lives and show what it means to love your eyes,” says Jesper Wiegandt, Chief Marketing Officer at ZEISS Vision Care. “Sharing these stories not only highlights the importance of visual health but can also inspire collective action towards a future where everyone can see clearly and thrive."

“From the very beginning, ZEISS Medical Technology has held a deep commitment to supporting the mission of World Sight Day and the vital efforts of ophthalmologists around the world who are helping to improve the accessibility, availability and affordability of eye health,“ says Magnus Reibenspiess, Head of Ophthalmology Strategic Business Unit at ZEISS Medical Technology. “As we look to a future of more data-driven and personalized care, our work with healthcare professionals and partners is paving the way for this transformation. We are proud to play our role in the important work being done around the world to improve the quality of life for patients everywhere.”

The Aloka Vision Programme celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025. Through this programme ZEISS enables eye care for about one million people in unserved regions in Nepal and India, each year. Implementing the WHO's guideline for integrated people-centered eye care and working closely with non-government organizations (NGOs), eye clinics, and optometry colleges, ZEISS is committed to sustainable availability of eye care for more and more people who would otherwise be left behind.
Other projects that ZEISS supports illustrate the global focus the company has to offer treatments for those in need, like in Indonesia, Mozambique, China and many other places, and to contribute to a stronger eye care workforce with training centers and education programs in regions that lack sufficient availability to ophthalmology.