Visual impairment and blindness continue to be major global health challenges in 2026. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 2.2 billion people worldwide currently live with vision impairment or blindness, and nearly half of these cases could have been prevented or remain unaddressed. The leading causes include uncorrected refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, corneal diseases, and age-related macular degeneration.

 

The increasing global population, aging demographics, and lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes have contributed significantly to the rising burden of visual impairment. This situation underscores the urgent need for sustained and coordinated efforts in prevention, early detection, effective management, and vision rehabilitation. With advances in science, technology, and medical education, approximately 80% of visual impairment remains preventable or treatable when appropriate measures are implemented.

 

Efforts to reduce the incidence of blindness and visual impairment must therefore focus on comprehensive strategies—ranging from community-based screening and public health interventions to the strengthening of ophthalmic clinical competencies. Through continuous education, ophthalmologists and allied eye health professionals can enhance their capacity to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care that improves not only visual outcomes but also patients’ overall quality of life and economic productivity.

 

The Cicendo International Ophthalmology Meeting (CIOM) 2026, themed “Eyes on the Future: Catalyzing Innovation, Collaboration and Research”, represents one of the key initiatives by Pusat Mata Nasional Rumah Sakit Mata Cicendo to support this mission. As a leading National Eye Center, Cicendo Eye Hospital remains committed to advancing ophthalmic knowledge, fos tering research collaboration, and promoting best practices through continuing medical education.

 

This meeting serves as a platform for ophthalmologists, researchers, and eye care professionals from Indonesia and around the world to share the latest scientific updates, innovations, and clinical experiences. It also reinforces our shared responsibility in reducing avoidable blindness and visual impairment—transforming knowledge into action for better global eye health