Organized by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in technical collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Summit will bring together heads of government, ministers, international organizations, civil society, and private-sector leaders in Antigua & Barbuda, a Caribbean island nation on 2 November 2026.

Together, they will launch the Global Eye Health Compact, a new global framework designed to accelerate progress through measurable commitments from governments and organizations.

As a High Impact Partner, Santen helps shape the Global Eye Health Compact and, at the Summit, will unveil its global eye health commitment, outlining how the company will contribute to improving eye health over the coming years.

Despite being essential to education, employment, independence, and healthy aging, eye health remains one of the world's most overlooked public health challenges. More than one billion people worldwide continue to live with avoidable vision impairment*1, highlighting a critical gap between available solutions and access to care. Addressing this challenge requires coordinated action across prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and public policy.

Rie Nakajima, Director of the Board, Chief Operating Officer of Santen Global, commented:

"No single organization can solve the growing burden of vision impairment alone. By working alongside governments, healthcare professionals, patient organizations, and global partners, we can help strengthen eye health systems, improve access to quality eye care, and deliver lasting benefits for people around the world. With more than 135 years of dedication to eye health, Santen is proud to join this global coalition."

Santen's participation builds on its longstanding collaboration with IAPB and partners across the eye health community to strengthen policy, raise awareness, and promote early action, including initiatives to advance childhood myopia and encourage healthy eye health habits for children.

Peter Holland, CEO, IAPB, commented:

"We welcome Santen's participation in the first Global Summit for Eye Health and look forward to continuing our collaboration to strengthen eye health policies and improve outcomes for over 1 billion people who experience vision problems worldwide. Only by working together like this can we deliver eye care services at scale and speed to end avoidable or treatable sight loss."

*1 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment