OneSight and WHO Partner on SPECS 2030

The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has entered a strategic partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global collaborator in the SPECS 2030 initiative. This alliance aims to expedite progress toward achieving the first global target for effective refractive error coverage, which seeks a 40% increase by 2030. This goal was endorsed by WHO Member States during the 2021 World Health Assembly.

A Joint Effort to Address Vision Challenges

This partnership marks a critical milestone in tackling refractive errors, addressing the growing prevalence of myopia, and expanding access to vision care in underserved regions. EssilorLuxottica highlights that this collaboration leverages shared expertise in knowledge dissemination, technical contributions, and data-driven strategies. Aligned with the United Nations' “Vision for Everyone” resolution, the partnership emphasizes impactful and sustainable solutions for global eye health.

"Vision care is not just a health priority – it is a social and economic imperative," stated Dr. Jérôme Salomon, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage, Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases. "The SPECS 2030 initiative, which underpins the UN ‘Vision for Everyone’ resolution, reminds us that effective collaboration can amplify impact, delivering tangible results for communities worldwide."

Five Key Pillars of SPECS 2030

The SPECS 2030 initiative is structured around five core pillars, each essential to enhancing global eye care:

1. Services: Improving access to refractive services.

2. Personnel: Building the capacity of eye care professionals.

3. Education: Raising public awareness about eye health.

4. Cost: Reducing the affordability barrier for eyeglasses and services.

5. Surveillance: Strengthening research and data collection efforts.

The Foundation will play a pivotal role by sharing best practices, providing technical expertise, and contributing critical data to advance the effective implementation of these pillars.

Amplifying Impact Through Collaboration

Uncorrected poor vision impacts 2.7 billion people globally, posing a significant public health challenge. The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has already made notable strides, enabling 961 million individuals in remote communities to access vision care services within a day’s travel and distributing 84 million pairs of eyeglasses to those in need.

However, eliminating uncorrected poor vision within a generation requires intensified collaboration. Anurag Hans, Head of Mission at EssilorLuxottica and President of the Foundation, emphasized the importance of this partnership:

"By uniting WHO’s leadership in public health with our expertise in delivering innovative, on-the-ground solutions, we believe we can create a multiplier effect to extend vision care to even the most underserved regions. Together, we have the power to transform lives and uplift entire communities."

This collaboration with WHO demonstrates a shared commitment to tackling vision care challenges and reinforces the belief that collective efforts can profoundly impact global eye health.