CBM UK hosts an inspiring evening at Downing College, Cambridge for ambitious World in Focus

With 1.1 billion people worldwide living with sight loss that could have been prevented or treated, the event highlighted the urgent need for accessible eye care. Beyond vision, sight loss profoundly affects independence, education, employment, and the well-being of entire communities. However, with 90% of sight loss avoidable through access to the right eye care, there is real hope for change.

Kirsty Smith, Chief Executive of CBM UK, shared moving accounts of how CBM’s projects in Nigeria and Nepal are restoring sight and opening new opportunities for people like Bandana (pictured above), who can see clearly for the first time following cataract surgery.

Poonam Shah, Inclusive Eye Health Advisor at CBM Global and a former optometrist at Cambridge University Hospitals, also spoke at the event, highlighting the revolutionary impact of the affordable and portable £13 Arclight device, which is dramatically improving eye care in low- and middle-income countries.

Kirsty Smith, CEO of CBM UK, expressed her gratitude: “We are incredibly thankful to everyone who joined us for such an uplifting and inspiring evening, where we could share our ambitious World in Focus campaign and highlight the life-transforming work we are doing in Nigeria and Nepal, thanks to our supporters. We would also like to thank Ciconi Ltd for their generous sponsorship, which made the event possible.”

CBM UK’s ambitious World in Focus campaign aims to raise £500,000 to support people living with sight loss in some of the world’s poorest communities. Thanks to the generosity of supporters in Cambridge and across the UK, £435,000 has already been raised. Find out more about how to support the campaign.