Jacksonville, Florida (November 2, 2026) – Johnson & Johnson, with support from the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Foundation, today announced a global commitment to help advance eye health through partnership, education and expanded access to care. The commitment includes continued support for school-based vision programs, cataract care capacity-building, donations of essential eye care products and global awareness efforts designed to elevate vision as a public health priority.
The commitment is being highlighted at the inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health, co-hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, in technical collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), and supported by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
Over two billion people are living with poor sight and for over one billion of these people, this sight loss could have been avoided or treated.[i] This represents a significant and rapidly growing public health challenge, but one that can be effectively addressed given that over 90 percent of sight loss cases are preventable or treatable through low-cost interventions such as glasses and cataract surgery.[ii]
“Vision shapes how we learn, work and experience the world around us, yet too many people are living with vision impairment that could be prevented or treated with access to quality eye care,” said Jacqueline Henderson, Company Group Chair, Vision, Johnson & Johnson. “We have long been committed to addressing that challenge and we are honored to join global partners at the Global Summit for Eye Health to elevate the importance of vision, and support solutions that help close gaps in care so more people can see clearly and thrive.”
In support of the commitment to address preventable vision loss, the Company and the J&J Foundation will continue with ongoing efforts to expand quality eye health services around the world, with a focus on:
- Refractive Error:Sight For Kids (SFK) is the world’s largest known school-based eye health program that was co-established with the Lions Clubs International Foundation in 2002. SFK provides children in schools with free, comprehensive eye health screenings and care, including eyeglasses, reaching nearly 60 million children.
- Cataracts: Partnerships with organizations like SEE International help medical teams and volunteersbring free sight-restoring surgeries to people living with cataracts, restoring sight for more than 70,000 patients while expanding access to quality cataract care in under-resourced communities.
- Product Donations: Ongoing donations of intraocular lenses (IOLs) and other essential vision products help surgeons and healthcare systems provide sight-restoring care to high-need populations around the world. Additionally, through support of the Cure Blindness Project, donations of surgical outreach kits, ophthalmic equipment and simulation tools help strengthen ophthalmic training and support the next generation of ophthalmologists.
- Innovation in Vision Care: The Company will continue to advance breakthrough science, human insight and the power of technology to protect, preserve and advance vision. J&J Impact Ventures, an investment fund within the J&J Foundation, is supporting Phelcom Technologies to develop and scale handheld retinal imaging that is both high-quality and affordable. By enabling screening and diagnosis in low-resource settings, this technology helps make timely eye care possible for more people.
- Advocacy and Awareness: Johnson & Johnson is a member partner of the IAPB and is working alongside the organization to elevate eye health as a public health priority and advocate for its place on national and global agendas.
Peter Holland, CEO, IAPB said: “Johnson & Johnson has long been a driving force in advancing eye health globally. Tackling the challenge facing more than one billion people without access to quality eye care demands collective action, and Johnson & Johnson’s leadership shows what can be achieved when the private sector, governments and NGOs work together. This commitment will help accelerate progress and bring quality eye care to millions more people.”
These efforts are part of Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to help more people live, see and smile by expanding access to cardiovascular, surgical and vision care through J&J CareCommunity, the Company’s global social impact platform dedicated to connecting communities to care and championing health workers.
About Vision at Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson has a deep legacy in developing transformational new products that improve the health of patients’ eyes. We have a bold ambition: Vision Made Possible – improving sight for more than 40 million people each year. Through cutting-edge innovation, expertise in material and optical science, and advanced technologies, we are revolutionizing the way people see and experience the world. Visit us at jjvision.com, follow @JNJVision on X, Johnson & Johnson | Vision on LinkedIn, and @JNJVision on Facebook.
About Johnson & Johnson
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more atwww.jnj.com.
About Johnson & Johnson Foundation
The Johnson & Johnson Foundation is an independent registered charitable organization that reflects the commitment of Johnson & Johnson to create a world without health inequities by closing the gaps between communities and the care they need. Funded solely by Johnson & Johnson, the Foundation supports both global and in-country partnerships and community-led initiatives to champion health workers, especially nurses and community health workers, and advance access to quality healthcare. Learn more at www.jnjfoundation.com/.
Johnson & Johnson’s Commitment to the Global Health Workforce
As healthcare advances, we believe in supporting those who shape it – healthcare professionals. J&J CareCommunity is a global social impact platform from Johnson & Johnson to advance access to quality care through championing nurses and community health workers. By collaborating with those closest to the challenge, we can connect more people to care. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/j-j-care-community.