International Women's Day 2020

In many parts of the world gender inequality means women face additional barriers to accessing eye care that men don't.

These barriers might include a lack of education, limited decision-making power and restricted access to financial resources. In other words, a woman may not be aware that treatment is available for her poor vision or may not be able to travel or pay for treatment.

Gender inequity may also mean that the healthcare needs of men are prioritized over women. In communities where men are traditionally the breadwinners and women manage domestic tasks, men's needs will often be seen to be more important.

Studies have demonstrated lower rates of cataract surgery for women despite women being more affected by the condition globally.

Recent global data on blindness trends predicts that blindness and visual impairment could triple in the next 30 years, unless we do something about it. The heart-breaking fact is that the most vulnerable segments of our population- women and children - will be disproportionately affected by this crisis.

We have recently launched a new three-year Global Strategic Plan where we have made it a priority to tackle this injustice head on. Much of our past work has helped alleviate the burden of blindness for women and girls, but we know we need to go further if we are to seriously address this imbalance.

We know that by empowering women to access eye care, it will not only help address gender inequalities but will have a broader impact on communities, as well as the wider economy.

This is why we are designing specific programs, like the Queen Mother's in Ghana and the Vision Centers in Bangladesh, that will help women access the eye care they deserve.

You can help more women access the eye care they deserve this International Women's Day by donating below.