At a rural school in Rangpur, Bangladesh, the impact of your support is being felt far beyond the eye screenings.
For Saiful, the head teacher at the local school, the recent school eye camp supported by Orbis and the Deep Eye Care Foundation has not just improved students' vision—it has opened their eyes to a healthier, brighter future.
As we celebrate World Sight Day under the theme Love Your Eyes, this teacher’s story is a powerful reminder of the role educators play in shaping healthier generations, one pair of eyes at a time.
Saiful with Orbis representatives on screening day.
October 9 is World Sight Day 2025, a day for the eye care community to come together and raise awareness of avoidable blindness and vision loss.
The eye camp is arranged by the Sundarganj Vision Center, an Orbis supported facility in partnership with the Deep Eye Care Foundation. It took place at the Maleka Begum High School in Joldhaka, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the vision center. With the help of Rohima, the Vision Center Officer at Sundarganj Vision Center, 250 children were screened, most of whom for the very first time. 25 young boys and girls were referred to the vision center for further tests and treatment.
“First of all, I would like to sincerely thank [Orbis partner hospital] Deep Eye Care Foundation for coming here,” head teacher Saiful says. He even had a message for Orbis supporters; “I welcome the donors and foreign partners for supporting this initiative in our school,” he said.
For many children in the school, the eye camp was the first time they had ever had their vision properly checked. “Many of them didn’t even realize whether they could see properly or not,” the head teacher explains. “Today’s initiative has made our students more aware and conscious about their eye health.”
In rural areas like Rangpur, children often struggle silently with undetected vision problems. Poor eyesight can hold them back in school, affecting their learning, confidence, and future prospects. But with Orbis’s help, barriers are being broken and young lives are being transformed.
The impact of the eye camp doesn’t stop with the students. “Now, they not only understand the importance of eye care for themselves but can also share this awareness with their families and communities,” Saiful says.
With their new knowledge, these children have become ambassadors for eye health—spreading the message to love your eyes, to seek help when something feels wrong, and to encourage others to do the same.
A schoolgirl gets her eyes checked during the School Sight Testing Program.
The head teacher has pledged to keep the momentum going. “I will do my best to refer students with major eye problems to Deep Eye Care so they can get the treatment they need,” he says. “I’ll encourage them to reach out and take action on their problems with the help of Deep Eye Care Foundation.”
By bringing eye care into the classroom, this program is not just helping children see more clearly—it’s helping them dream bigger, learn better, and live healthier lives.
There are 1 billion people on this planet living with a vision problem that could be treated or prevented entirely, but they don’t have access to the care they need. The care that so many of us take for granted—like an eye exam, a pair of glasses, or cataract surgery—could completely change their life.
You love your eyes. Now share that love with others around the world.
Show your support this World Sight Day
