15th Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week

The Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) is pleased to announce the 15^th Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week, which will take place from October 6–12, 2025, in conjunction with World Sight Day on October 9, 2025.

2025 Co-Organizing Subspecialty Societies

This year, the Public Education Standing Committee has invited two subspecialty member societies to co-organize the Eye Care Week:

• Asia Cornea Society (ACS) – Antimicrobial Resistance and Its Implications in Eye Care
• Asia-Pacific Glaucoma Society (APGS) – Acute Primary Angle Closure

Both societies are generously preparing a comprehensive set of educational materials (media kits) to support public outreach across the region.

Get Involved

All APAO national member societies are warmly invited to participate by organizing public educational activities and outreach services in their respective countries or communities during the week.

Societies are encouraged to make use of the media kit provided, and where appropriate, translate and localize the materials for more effective communication.

After the conclusion of your Eye Care Week activities, please share your highlights (e.g., photos and/or videos) using the Activity Report Form linked below.

 Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week Prizes

We are delighted to continue the Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week Prizes introduced in 2024. These awards recognize outstanding efforts by APAO national member societies in public education and community outreach.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

Prize	Judging Criterion	Participation Requirements
The Best Public Educational Prize	Number of members of the public reached through the educational event	Activity must align with the APAO theme of the year (Antimicrobial Resistance and Its Implications in Eye Care; Acute Primary Angle Closure) APAO Eye Care Week banner must be visibly used during the activity
The Best Public Eye Screening Prize	Number of members of the public who received eye screening services

All APAO national member societies that submit their activity report by the deadline will be automatically considered for the prizes.

Submission Form and Deadline

Please complete the Activity Report Form, which includes a Declaration Form to be submitted together by Friday, November 14, 2025.

Recognition

Upon endorsement by the APAO Council, the winners will be announced and recognized at the APAO 2026 Congress in Hong Kong. Please note that if no participating societies meet the judging criteria and participation requirements, no awards may be presented.

Showcase of Activities

Even if you are not participating in the prize competition, we warmly encourage all APAO national member societies to share their Eye Care Week highlights via the same form. Submitted activities will be featured on the Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week website.

APAO looks forward to highlighting the collective impact of its national member societies during the 15^th Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week.

• 15th Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week Leaderboard banner (PNG)
• 15th Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week Square pop-up banner (PNG)
• 15th Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week Medium rectangle banner (PNG)
• The 15th Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week banner AI file
• Antimicrobial Resistance and Its Implications in Eye Care–ACS
• Acute Primary Angle Closure–APGS

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The 15th Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week: Driving Awareness, Strengthening Action

The 15th Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week, held from October 6–12, 2025, in conjunction with World Sight Day on October 9, concluded with broad outreach across Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and Sri Lanka. A wide range of activities were organized during the week to promote eye health awareness and encourage timely eye screening and care.

APAO also continued the Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week Prizes, introduced in 2024, to recognize member societies for outstanding initiatives during Eye Care Week, including the Best Public Educational Prize and the Best Public Eye Screening Prize.

This success would not have been possible without the collaboration of our co-organizers: the Public Education Standing Committee, the Asia Cornea Society (ACS), and the Asia-Pacific Glaucoma Society (APGS). We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to all APAO member societies who participated in and supported Eye Care Week in their communities.

The highlights of this year’s activities are outlined below.

Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week Prizes 2025 – Results

Following review and endorsement by the APAO Council, the results of the Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week Prizes 2025 are as follows:

Prize	Winner
Best Public Educational Prize	Korean Ophthalmological Society
Best Public Eye Screening Prize	College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka

Eye Care Campaigns in the Asia-Pacific Region

Bangladesh

The National Institute of Ophthalmology (NIO) Hospital and OSB Eye Hospital carried out a series of public awareness and outreach activities. A World Sight Day Seminar was held on October 9, 2025 at both institutions, alongside two rallies organized by NIO and OSB that engaged 165 participants. Throughout the week, two patient awareness programmes were conducted (October 6–12), reaching 250 individuals with key eye care messages. In addition, a community outreach program involving school vision testing at three schools screened 520 students, extending eye health screening and awareness into the community.

 

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Malaysia

The Malaysian Society of Ophthalmology (MSO) organized three nationwide initiatives to expand access to eye care and raise public awareness. In August, MSO and its partners conducted an outreach screening in Kampung Sugiang Baru, Tenom, serving over 200 villagers through visual assessments, refraction, fundus imaging, on-site spectacle provision, and referrals for further management of cataract and retinal conditions. In September, MSO collaborated with Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah to screen approximately 250 community members in Chenderiang, providing comprehensive eye evaluations, support with health-scheme enrolment, and free spectacles for indigenous children. On World Sight Day, the “Amazing Charity Hunt for Sight” in Kuala Lumpur combined public education, experiential learning, fundraising, and on-site screenings to strengthen national eye-health awareness.

 

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Republic of Korea

The Korean Ophthalmological Society (KOS) organized an online public education initiative by producing and releasing three short educational YouTube Shorts on October 6, 2025 via its official YouTube channel. Developed in alignment with this year’s themes—Antimicrobial Resistance and Its Implications in Eye Care and Acute Primary Angle Closure—the short clips (each under one minute) delivered concise, public-friendly messages on key eye health risks and the importance of timely action.

One video highlighted how the misuse and overuse of antibiotic eye drops can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, potentially complicating the treatment of eye infections. Two additional videos focused on acute primary angle closure, emphasizing that symptoms such as sudden headache, nausea or vomiting may be eye-related rather than neurological, and underscoring the urgency of prompt ophthalmic consultation to prevent irreversible vision loss. During Eye Care Week, the three videos received 27,590, 108,899, and 51,543 views respectively, significantly extending the campaign’s public reach through accessible digital education.

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Sri Lanka

The College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka (COSL) carried out activities spanning community screening, service delivery, and public education. World Sight Day activities began with cataract screening programs held across Sri Lanka, through which 1,500 individuals were screened. Follow-up care was highlighted through a cataract surgical camp at the National Eye Hospital, where 100 free cataract surgeries were performed for patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

 

Alongside cataract initiatives, COSL strengthened glaucoma awareness through both mass media and in-person education. Public awareness programs were delivered via leading electronic media channels, including National Rupavahini and Channel 7, reaching an estimated 135,345 viewers; additional media outreach by Dr. Gayan Wijesundara with Dr. Iranga Madushan reached 13,700 people. In-person education on glaucoma and other common eye diseases engaged 124 participants, supported by the distribution of public awareness leaflets.

 

 

Targeted screening activities were also conducted to support early detection: Dr. Lalitha Senarath and team screened 103 individuals for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, and Dr. Waruna Wickramasinghe screened 56 staff members and at-risk patients. A media conference at the National Eye Hospital—attended by major TV channels and the press—reinforced the theme “Love Your Eyes” and emphasized the prevention of avoidable blindness.