Bangladesh could generate more than 28,300 crore taka in economic benefits by expanding investment in eye care by 2030, according to international development organisation Sightsavers.
The organisation has called for greater government and private-sector spending to address widespread vision impairment.
More than 2.66 crore people in Bangladesh were living with some form of vision impairment, citing 2020 estimates from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
The figures suggest that vision problems affect a substantial share of the country's population, with consequences extending beyond public health to education, employment and economic productivity.
In a statement marking World Sight Day on October 8, Sightsavers urged the government, development partners, donors and private healthcare providers to make eye care more accessible, affordable and inclusive.
The projected economic gains are based on a 2025 investment assessment by the IAPB, Seva Foundation and Fred Hollows Foundation.
The assessment identifies improved access to interventions such as prescription glasses and cataract surgery as an opportunity to reduce avoidable vision impairment and its associated economic costs.
However, the projected 28,300 crore taka represents potential economic benefits from increased investment, rather than a confirmed return or additional government revenue.
Beyond the immediate health consequences, untreated vision impairment can affect children's education, reduce adults' ability to work and increase dependence on family members.
Sightsavers cited IAPB research suggesting that early intervention for children with vision impairment in Bangladesh could increase their lifetime earnings by as much as 45%.
The findings point to the long-term economic consequences of failing to identify and treat vision problems during childhood.
For schoolchildren, even relatively common conditions such as short-sightedness can interfere with classroom learning when corrective glasses are unavailable.
Sightsavers highlighted the experience of Setu, a 15-year-old student preparing for her Secondary School Certificate examinations.
Setu struggled to read the classroom blackboard and frequently experienced headaches and watery eyes.
After attending a school health awareness session organised by Sightsavers, she underwent a free vision screening and received prescription glasses.
"Now I see clearly, focus better, and my headaches have reduced. I feel more confident," she said.
The organisation said relatively inexpensive interventions could prevent such problems from undermining educational performance and future earning potential.
Globally, more than 85% of people with vision impairment live in low- and middle-income countries, according to research published in The Lancet Global Health in 2021.
Women and girls account for more than half of those living with visual impairment, highlighting disparities in access to diagnosis and treatment.
Despite these challenges, eye care frequently receives limited attention in national health planning and development programmes, particularly in underserved communities.
Amrita Rejina Rozario, country director of Sightsavers Bangladesh, said the treatments required to address many common vision problems were already available.
"The solutions already exist. Glasses, cataract surgery and stronger eye care systems can transform lives, yet too many people still cannot access the support they need," she said.
She called for stronger health services, more trained eye care professionals and better integration of vision screening into education, healthcare and social inclusion programmes.
The appeal comes ahead of the inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health in November, which Bangladesh will co-host with Antigua and Barbuda in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the IAPB.
The summit is expected to bring together governments, donors, development organisations and healthcare stakeholders to secure commitments aimed at reducing avoidable vision impairment.
Cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors, including short-sightedness, will be among the conditions receiving attention.
Rozario said the summit presented an opportunity to translate international commitments into practical improvements in eye care.
"The Global Summit for Eye Health is an opportunity for governments, donors, and the private and public sectors to turn commitments into action so more people can learn, work, and participate fully in society," she said.
In Bangladesh, Sightsavers works with the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, alongside government and private hospitals, to improve access to eye care.
The organisation currently provides technical support across 17 districts.
According to Sightsavers, its programmes conduct more than 10 lakh eye screenings and carry out over 70,000 cataract surgeries annually in Bangladesh.
These services form part of efforts to identify treatable vision problems earlier and expand access to specialist care outside major urban centres.
Sightsavers and its 13 partner organisations are also marking World Sight Day through eye camps, awareness rallies, youth activities and the free distribution of spectacles.
The programmes involve students, people with disabilities, healthcare providers and local communities.
The organisation said expanding such initiatives would require sustained investment, better-trained healthcare workers and closer coordination between public and private providers.
Its central argument is that eye care should not be treated solely as a specialist medical service, but also as an investment in education, employment and economic participation.
With more than 2.66 crore people affected by vision impairment, the scale of Bangladesh's eye care needs remains considerable.
The challenge now is whether policymakers and healthcare providers can turn the projected economic benefits into wider access to screening, affordable glasses and timely treatment.
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