An eye test. /PHOTO; Pexel
Millions of people across Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and the United States are expected to receive life-changing eye care following the launch of a $75 million global vision initiative by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The announcement was made today at the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum.
The effort will deliver vision screenings for 11.5 million people, distribute nearly seven million pairs of eyeglasses, and provide 250,000 cataract surgeries.
It comes as the world grapples with a staggering reality: one billion people live with untreated vision impairment, 90 percent of them in low- and middle-income countries.
Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, said the new initiative seeks to dismantle one of the most overlooked barriers to opportunity.
“As many as one billion people live with a condition that is an enormous obstacle to success in school and careers: poor vision,” he said. “And in most cases, it can be easily fixed.”
A Preventable Crisis
Vision loss often begins with simple issues that, if untreated, escalate into lifelong disability. Uncorrected vision affects children’s ability to learn, reduces employment prospects, and limits participation in community life.
Cataracts remain a leading cause of blindness worldwide, despite being treatable through a relatively simple surgery.
Caroline Harper, CEO of Sightsavers, called eye health one of the most neglected areas of care:
“Screening a child’s eyesight and providing glasses is a highly effective way to help them learn. Removing someone’s cataracts enables them to see the world clearly again, which can be utterly transformative.”
Expanding Reach Through Partnerships
The initiative will be delivered in collaboration with global and local organizations, pooling expertise to reach communities where services are scarce.
It will expand school-based programs to catch vision problems early and strengthen data systems to monitor outcomes and improve the quality of care.
Peter Holland, CEO of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, noted that the benefits extend well beyond individual patients.
“Preventing sight loss is one of the world’s most powerful, untapped opportunities to improve quality of life, spur economic growth, and meet global development goals,” he said.
“Investment in eye health could boost low- and middle-income countries’ economies by almost $450 billion each year.”
Warby Parker Collaboration
A central element of the initiative is its collaboration with eyewear brand Warby Parker.
The company’s Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program has already distributed more than 20 million glasses
worldwide.
Bloomberg’s investment will help scale up this work and expand Warby Parker’s Pupils Project, which provides free screenings, exams, and glasses to students.
Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, said the impact of something as simple as eyeglasses cannot be underestimated.
“A simple pair of glasses can be life-changing,” he explained. “It’s a key that unlocks a person’s potential, giving them the clear vision they need to learn, work, and thrive.”
Shifting Perceptions
Beyond clinical services, the initiative will invest in public education campaigns to tackle stigma and mistrust, particularly around cataract surgery.
In many communities, myths or a lack of awareness prevent people from seeking treatment, even when services are available.
The campaigns will aim to change attitudes and increase demand for proven solutions.
Bloomberg said the initiative is about unleashing potential on a mass scale.
“Through our new Vision Initiative, we’re teaming up with experts to expand access to screenings, eyeglasses, and cataract surgeries – and empower millions more people to fulfill their potential.”
Looking Ahead
By combining screenings, eyeglasses, surgeries, awareness campaigns, and stronger health systems, the initiative aims to demonstrate how targeted investment can solve a massive but solvable global health problem.
For the millions of people who will gain clear sight, the results may mean a child who can finally read a schoolbook, an adult who can return to work, or a grandparent who can once again see their family.
For communities, it promises to lift one of the quietest but most pervasive barriers to development.
“More than 4 million children across the country go to school every day without the glasses they need,” said Vision To Learn Founder Austin Beutner.
“When children go to school hungry, we feed them. We make sure they have the books and school supplies they need. Why not glasses? Every child in every school, everywhere in the country, should have the glasses they need to succeed in school and in life.”
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people.
The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health.
Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy, as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world.
In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion.
